In a loud and clear message that Pakistan’s national interest will guide its policy, Islamabad on Saturday unambiguously warned Washington against any hot pursuit inside its territory or making the country a scapegoat for the US failure in Afghanistan.
With Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani strongly rejecting the US assertions of complicity with the Haqqanis and of Pakistan launching a proxy war, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar also hit out at the US, warning it against crossing the “red-lines” and making it a “scapegoat” for failed objectives (in Afghanistan). “We have established red-lines with them (the US) … those red-lines have to be accepted and followed by every country … if any established rules of engagement are broken, all doors and options will be opened up,” Khar told a private TV channel to a question about the possibility of the US sending troops into Pakistan.
Making a policy statement, Prime Minister Gilani said, “Pakistan’s national interest will guide our policy.” He said several countries had maintained direct contacts with the Haqqanis. “Singling out Pakistan is not fair … Pakistan cannot be held responsible for the security of the US NATO/ISAF forces in Afghanistan … while there have been terrorist attacks in Kabul and Wardak, there have also been numerous attacks on Pakistan launched from sanctuaries and havens in Nooristan and Kunar in Afghanistan… it is as much the responsibility of the Afghan National Army, NATO and ISAF not to allow such cross-border militancy,” the prime minister said, adding that joint operations and coordination were essential.
“Let’s be objective and not get carried away by emotions,” he stressed. He said the propaganda blitz against Pakistan was indeed unfortunate. “It vitiates the atmosphere and is counter-productive … it tends to ignore the sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and negates all that we have endeavored to achieve over the last several years… More than 35,000 Pakistanis have fallen victim to the acts of terrorism and many more have been injured,” he said.
He recalled Pakistan had taken resolute action against terrorists and militants. “We have done so in our national interest … the US knows very well the full account of large number of al Qaeda operatives that were interdicted, captured and killed by our security forces … terrorists are targeting innocent civilians, bombing our markets and places of worship and carrying out targeted assassinations against security and law enforcement personnel,” he said.
The PM said allegations (against Pakistan) betray a confusion and policy disarray within the US establishment on the way forward in Afghanistan. “Clearly, there is a concern over the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan … recent attacks in Kabul, including on the US embassy, were disquieting. We condemn these attacks,” he said.
He stressed the need for close policy coordination between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the US, saying: “We need to develop a clear and coherent strategy together. A clear roadmap so that Afghanistan, Pakistan and the US are on the same page and work together for achieving the stated goal of reconciliation and peace. It is with this in view that we established the Trilateral Core Group which has met four times.”
He observed that blame-game was self-defeating and it would only benefit the enemies of peace. “Only terrorists and militants will gain from any fissures and divisions … Pakistan’s credentials and sacrifices in the counter-terrorism campaign are impeccable and unquestionable,” he said. Gilani said Pakistan had emphasised the need for deeper engagement in recent interaction with the US, including the foreign minister’s meeting with the US secretary of state, and at the military and intelligence level.
“However, this can only take place on the basis of mutual respect…let’s avoid mutual recrimination and recommit ourselves to working together for eliminating terrorism and for reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan,” he said, reiterating that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan.
Pakistan's enemies such as India are giving this "intelligence" to the Americans. America it seems is blind to any good Pakistan is doing and is so taken in by Indian deceit they believe everything fed to them. They don't understand the devious Hindu mind which is always looking to hurt Pakistan or it's interests.
Hindus are devious and Americans are fools and you are wise and good ?????? HAHahha. Your own meanspiritedness, lies, double games, violent mentality is responsible for your mess. You can scream as much as you want your end has come. You will not die but you will live like Somalia or Afganistan. Outsiders can never destroy you, your own wickedness will kill you.Not only India, no one in the world likes you. You wait and watch.
@Mahesh: You are enjoying Becoz u are enjoying being in the lap of America. Don't forget ISI is ranked no 1 . In the world. Google it. So see how things go in future.
But once let US go from this region. Then see what happens wd u.
There is nothing you can do other than getting some planes hijacked, few suicide attacks or other forms of terrorism. You are just criminal minded mischief monger and your nuisance value is limited to destroy a few lives. Thats it. There is nothing beyond that you can do otherwise you could have done by now. India stands on its own and it has never entered into unequal realtionship with any country. But you will never understand that as Pakistan always had master slave relationship with US and China and reduced itself to be henchman. You have got your citizens killed to please US and heavely dependent upon foreign aid even for survival. Weopons, militant attitude,militias can only cause some trouble and this trouble also has outlived its utility as there are complete chaos with Pakistan today.
oh plz, instead of replying to EVERYTHING with hate and aggression maybe its time you realise the world hates us for a reason. YES, we are not terrorists but wt is it tht we do to tell the world this. You'll be nothing once the US leaves if you keep ths attitude. Aggression and hate was never the part of our religion islam nor of pakistan and it wont solve any problems either it'l just make them worse.
peace.
Maheesh can't harm Pakistan, it is Mahmood and Sameer which are not willing to learn from the past.
Dont seek martyrdom as a nation, Pakistan needs living veterans also so that nation can survive. Pakistan needs unity and wisdom to survive, six decades of empty rhetoric is resposible for all the troubles of Pakistan. USA needs Pakistan, but Pakistan needs USA more for its economic survival.
Flag burning is wasting your own resources, it does not hurt USA aas she knows how much Pakistanis hate them. If hating America can solve your problems, then ask USA to help you by providing more flags.
Mahesh, what you have written is true to some extent but not the whole truth. You must be aware that it is not US , CHINA , INDIA or some other power which holds the fate of the world but the GOD and the GOD does not eliminate a nation or a country until one good human is living there and here are millions in Pakistan.
Whatever the world says but believe me, terrorism is neither the state policy nor the people OF PAKISTAN support it. America wants to change the world for its own interest and present closeness with INDIA will also be not there after few years as the present goals are achieved , New partners for the next world order as their history is full of such examples.
War in Afghanistan and Iraq is being fought to control the energy sources for the future.Iraq for the middle east and Afghanistan for the central Asian reserves. As soon as Americans get hold of these areas or they are thrown out from here, peace will prevail and there shall be no more drone attacks or suicide incidents.
My dear friends, from all religions and all countries whoever reading. Please understand that we are living in the very dramatic phase of time. India and Pakistan shared a very very complex relations. Pakistan was created at the cost of freedom for the ego of certain people, then Bangladesh was also created for some other reason. There are many. Look at the condition of Pakistan, no civilian commanded government, military dictatorship, ISI, extremism, poverty, corruption, depend completely on US aid, internal security, mafia, regionalism, there are many. India have its own set of problem. The list is as same as Pakistan or little different. We fought many wars. Each wants Kashmir. These are states policies, but what about the common man? What about the millions of people who have nothing to do with these kinds of problems. ISI and Pak military are busy with there agenda. They are always on focus compared to Government. There are really issues. If we are doing wrong things, then we are only going to suffer. After 9/11 USA comes in picture very aggressively. Invaded Iraq now Afghan later Pakistan, who knows India also (In different ways). They are very clear about there goals and targets. They will achieve it at any cost. Look at Saddam and Laden. They controls world economy, they are super power. Breaked Russia also. Now their real threat is China. They have different thinking than us. Pakistan is a scapegoat. India want advantage. But this is not the solution. Pakistan is on the verge of complete collapse. India is on the same path. Rather being solve our own problems we are busy with hating each other on many basis. Please grow up guys. First be a HUMAN. All other things will be solved. Remember at the first we are Human and at the last also.
Pakistan is in a state of denial…
Americans are going to leave Afghanistan and leave Indians behind them. Then we will eat Indians for breakfast.
Well the question is how come the militants from North Waziristan entered Afghanistan and traveled all the way to Kabul undetected and launched such a massive attack.
Recently, there were a few cross border raids from Afghanistan on Pakistan military and security forces in which Pakistan suffered huge losses. The areas from which the attacks were launched, Kunar of Afghanistan, had ISAF and NATO forces until recently when the security was handed over to Afghans. Now point is clear, if you can't avoid an attack on Pakistan from a place which is your stronghold and when you have all the resources available than how do you expect Pakistan to stop any such ALLEGED attacks. Question remains the same, how come the Haqqanis moved out of Pakistan into the Afghanistan and traveled all the way to the center of Afghanistan and attacked US Embassy and ISAF base?
The attack was underway when they started saying that Haqqanis are behind the attack, now the second question, if they knew about the attack why didn't they stop it???
Well the situation just doesn't add up to what lies on the other side of the equation.
I won't reply to Indians' comments, as their hatred to Pakistan and Pakistanis is understandable!
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