ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal Tuesday said that Pakistan’s national resolve was to eliminate any sign of terrorism from the country. “It is our national resolve to cleanse any sign of terrorism to achieve the objective of peace and development,” said the interior minister while addressing a three-day International Counter-Terrorism Forum in the federal capital. Recounting in detail the efforts put in and sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war on terrorism, he said: “We carried out Zarb-e-Azb-like operations from our own resources to flush out terror outfits. “Terrorists have targeted all sections of Pakistan. They have attacked mosques, churches, temples and shrines.” He said that Pakistan lost 60,000 lives in the war against terrorism but it could not deter the resolve of the nation. The narrative of peace and development is very clear to the nation, he added. He, however, said that the war on terror was not over yet and collaborative efforts were needed to achieve a decisive victory. Speaking about the Afghan war, the interior minister said that once the war was over everyone left. “Afghanistan was left at the mercy of terrorist networks,” he remarked, adding that Pakistan was still suffering from the repercussions of the Afghan war. The interior minister reminded that the country was considered as one of the most dangerous places in the world in 2013 but now the world publications were declaring Pakistan an emerging economy in the world. Voicing concerns over the recent wave of terror unleashed by Indian troops in Held Kashmir, the interior minister said this would not contribute to bringing peace and stability to the region. “Responsibility rests with the world community to ensure that the blood and sufferings of any citizen regardless of his faith and ethnicity has equal sanctity. Otherwise, the terrorist outfits will exploit the situation to their advantage,” he concluded. Published in Daily Times, April 4th 2018.