ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa told a US commander on Thursday that Pakistan had done its best for peace in the region but the same was not being reciprocated by Afghanistan.
“Peace in Afghanistan is more important for Pakistan than any other country,” he was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) Commander General Joseph L Votel had called on Gen Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The statement came a day after Pakistan’s civil and military leadership condemned the recent attacks on the Pakistan Army checkpost in Bajaur Agency and on police officials in Quetta, and expressed deep concern over the ‘now increasingly exposed’ activities of hostile intelligence agencies to destabilise the country.
Two servicemen, among them a captain, were martyred and up to 10 terrorists killed in a cross-border attack from Afghanistan on the Pakistan Army checkposts in Bajaur earlier this week.
Similarly, acting Superintendent of Police Muhammad Ilyas along with his wife, son and grandson were shot dead in the Nawa Killi area in Quetta on Wednesday.
Pakistan, the army chief said, had done its best despite constraints and shall continue efforts for the sake of its future, in line with aspirations of the Pakistani people.
“However, the same was not being reciprocated as evident from the continued attacks from across the border,” the statement added. Discussion between the two commanders focused on regional security situation, Afghanistan, Pak-Afghan border management and Pakistan’s positive contributions towards peace and stability in the region.
The CENTCOM commander appreciated and acknowledged the Pakistan Army’s contributions and Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly said that the Taliban, who fled a series of military operations in the tribal regions, found safe havens in northern, eastern and northeastern Afghanistan.
Published in Daily Times, November 17th 2017.
