Pakistan Armed Forces’ officials have categorically rejected the US allegations about any Haqqani Network in Pakistan and ISI’s operations across borders.
Sources informed Online that while briefing political leaders in the APC (All Parties Conference), convened by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday over national security, the ISI chief Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha and other army officials strongly rejected the US allegations that ISI was exporting terrorism and all such allegations were baseless and fabricated.
Pasha also highlighted the numerous sacrifices Pakistan had rendered in its war against terrorism, regretting that it was still being held responsible for all baseless and fabricated acts.
He also categorically denied that Pakistan had ever accepted any foreign dictation regarding military operations in any area of Pakistan and informed that seven provinces of Afghanistan were under control/influence of Haqqani Network, out of which the Haqqani Network virtually ruled four provinces.
Replying to various questions, Lt. Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha said that in case of any US incursion in North Wazirstan, Pakistan Army reserved its right to retaliate, and said that Pakistan Army had evolved its strategy in event of any attack by American forces.
The ISI chief, expressed that Pakistan did not want to go to any extremes in any Pak-USA controversy, while according to sources, Pakistan Army also expressed reservations over the current situation of Afghanistan and stressed that ISI had no hand in the recent murder of former Afghanistan President, Burhan uddin Rabbani.
Army sources also maintained that as long as operations against terrorist elements were being carried out in other parts of Pakistan were not completed, and these areas did not revert to normalcy, any operation in North Wazirstan was impossible.
It was also informed that despite the fact that America had promised anti-terrorism equipment, it had never been delivered.
Meanwhile briefing the APC participants, Pakistan’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar informed that during her American tour, she had put forth the principled stand of Pakistan in front of entire world community, highlighting the fact that Pakistan suffered the major brunt of war against terrorism, but all its sacrifices had been in vain as these were overwhelmed by mistrust and doubt.
She said that she had impressed the fact on America that this mutual mistrust and doubt had to be ended immediately, because things would/could never surge ahead in circumstances like these; and America would have to play its due part for a longer lasting peace in the region.
The foreign minister stressed that Pakistan was playing bits due part with great responsibility and sagacity, and reiterated Pakistan’s resolve for maintaining its efforts for reconciliation in/with Afghanistan.
She rejected the notion that Pakistan’s foreign policy was controlled by any external source, and also disclosed that reservations of Pakistani leadership had also been conveyed to American government.
Army rejects presence of Haqqani Network in Pakistan
