Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Saturday that the defence of Pakistan was in safe hands and that no one could cast an evil eye on it.
Addressing the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected office-bearers of Sialkot Press Club, he said Pakistan would continue its efforts to be a part of durable peace in Afghanistan. We have always desired to maintain good relations with all neighbouring countries, he added.
Khawaja Asif said that the recent US drone attack killing Mullah Mansour cannot be termed as a failure of Pakistan’s foreign policy. However, it had affected the efforts underway for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
The minister said Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)’s top leaders have safe shelters in Afghanistan and despite knowing the fact, no international power, including the United States, was ready to take action against those who were busy hatching conspiracies to destbalise Pakistan with the help of India. Khawaja Asif urged Afghanistan and the US to show sincerity in establishing peace in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan was keeping all options open over the deadlock on F-16 planes deal with the US. He alleged that international powers were providing ammunition to India against Pakistan.
Asif said prevailing security situation of the country was improving day by day. The minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made Pakistan a nuclear power after ignoring the international pressure.
Despite internal and external threats, he said Pakistan had got several meaningful successes against terrorism. The government was committed to weeding out terrorism from the country and the Zarb-e-Azb operation would continue till the elimination of the last terrorist, he added.
Khawaja Asif said India had not yet accepted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and it was trying to develop its commercial and diplomatic relations with other countries. He said that despite all the hurdles, the CPEC project was moving ahead towards its goal which would open new vistas of socio-economic and human development in Pakistan.
