Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakariya on Thursday said that there was no organised presence of any terror outfit, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jamaatul Ahrar, Daesh and Al Qaeda on Pakistani soil. He also reiterated that the Haqqani Network operated from Afghanistan, not Pakistan.

At his weekly news briefing, the spokesperson said the allegations about the presence of Haqqani network in tribal areas were mere rhetoric. “These are only aimed at putting the blame of their failures on Pakistan. The killing of a number of commanders of Haqqani network in Afghanistan clearly indicates that the group was based in Afghanistan and not operating from Pakistan,” he said.

He maintained that as result of effective counter terrorism operations, the terrorists were on the run and their infrastructure had been dismantled. “This has also been manifested in the improved security situation in the country. Taliban and other terrorist outfits have been eliminated from Pakistan and that those surviving are functioning from Afghanistan. Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations are without any discrimination, and the terrorists are on the run and their infrastructure has been dismantled,” he said.

Nafees Zakariya said that during the visit of the US delegation headed by Senator McCain, matters pertaining to Afghanistan were also discussed. “Pakistan believes in an Afghan-led and Afghan owned peace process. Peace and stability in Afghanistan has direct bearing on peace and stability in Pakistan. Pakistan is ready to assist in all efforts aimed at bringing peace to the neighbouring country,” he said.

“Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism in which Indian state agencies have a proven involvement. That country is involved in perpetrating state-sponsored terrorism. India, on the other hand, is part of the problem in Afghanistan. It does not want peace prevailing in the country. People of Pakistan are the most sincere friends of Afghanistan,” he said.

The spokesperson said Pakistan welcomed Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei’s recent statement in which he urged the Muslims worldwide to support the oppressed people of Kashmir.

He said the entire Muslim Ummah was concerned over gross human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.

Published in Daily Times, July 7^th , 2017.