Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: In the backdrop of recent spate of terrorist incidents in Pakistan, a high-level security meeting chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa was held on Saturday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), The COAS was briefed in detail about the recent incidents and their manifest linkages with terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan operating under the patronage of NDS and RAW. The COAS said that since 9/11, Pakistan is one of the few countries which have borne the brunt of terrorism and made monumental sacrifices to effectively neutralise this menace in its state territories.

“Unfortunately our sacrifices against terrorism are not well acknowledged and we are often subjected to demand of ‘do more’.”

It was concluded that while counter terrorism efforts by Pakistan continue, it is time now for the other stakeholders, particularly Afghanistan to ‘do more’. The chief reiterated, “We will continue our efforts to positively contribute towards regional peace & stability and shall not allow use of our territory against any other country.” The top general praised efforts of security forces, intelligence and other law enforcers in foiling countless terrorist activities through the ongoing Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.

He expressed his resolve to eliminate the menace to ensure safety and security of Pakistan and its resilient people who are real strength of their brave security forces. The ISPR announced that security and surveillance of the Pak-Afghan border had been intensified after the two attacks that took place on Friday.

The army chief’s latest statement comes in the wake of a spate of ‘terror activities’ which have killed at least 85 people and left many others wounded.

Following the deadly twin blasts in Parachinar on Friday, the ISPR tweeted saying that the recent terror incidents were “linked to sanctuaries across [the Pak-Afghan border]”.

Separately, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that India is using agents and land of other countries to sabotage peace in Pakistan.

Talking to state-run media, he said, “Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav had confessed his crime and involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan.”

He said, “Full legal procedure had been followed in Kulbhushan trial.”

He said, “Pakistan has arrested many people involved in terrorist activities in the country.” To a question, he said, “Pakistan has good understanding with Iran and both the countries have resolved many issues with mutual efforts.”

Published in Daily Times, June 25th, 2017.