Pakistan briefs foreign envoys in Islamabad on counter-terrorism efforts

ISLAMABAD: Ambassadors and heads of missions of resident missions in Islamabad were briefed on Wednesday on Pakistan’s achievements and challenges in counter-terrorism efforts and combating violent extremism, unprecedented escalations of Indian ceasefire violations at the LoC and the Working Boundary and the gross atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK).

The briefings were given by the foreign minister, foreign secretary, chief of general staff (CGS), director general military operations (DGMO) and director general military intelligence (DGMI) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Welcoming the participants, the foreign minister stated that the briefing had been arranged to inform the diplomatic corps about the massive counter-terrorism efforts that Pakistan had undertaken in the last 16 years and more so in the last four years. They were provided details about the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fassad which had eliminated the presence of terrorists in Pakistan.

They were also briefed about the terrorist threat emanating from the safe havens and sanctuaries in Afghanistan, which is resulting in loss of human lives and damage to infrastructure in Pakistan.

Details were also provided on how Indian belligerence and unhelpful posturing is distracting Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts, and how an active RAW-NDS nexus is verifiably working to undermine Pakistan’s internal stability. Ambassadors were shown evidence of an Indian campaign of unprecedented ceasefire violations, provocations and insinuations, including terrorism, in the form of IED attacks against innocent civilians on Pakistan’s side of the LoC and the WB.

These Indian activities constitute an unfortunate “new normal” aimed at destabilising the entire region.

The members of the diplomatic corps condoled over the loss of human lives in the terrorist attack in Quetta on Tuesday. The chief of general staff thanked them and informed the diplomatic corps that Tuesday’s terrorist attack had been traced back to Afghanistan.

The comprehensive and detailed briefing by the civil and military leadership was appreciated by members of the diplomatic corps.

Furthermore, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal underlined the need for bridging the gap between Pakistan and United States to achieve targets together.

Seeking a common solution, for reducing the gap that emerged after the US President Donald Trump’s tweet, would be imperative for both the countries to move forward, he said while talking to a news channel.

China, Turkey and other countries had also given statements in favour of Pakistan for playing role in the war against terrorism, he said. Pakistan held good relations with these countries, he added.

Commenting on the matter of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, he said that Jadhav had confessed to his crime and involvement in the subversive and terrorist incidents. Many other people who had links with Indian espionage were also arrested, he added.

“We have highlighted this issue at all available international forum,” he said. To a question regarding repatriation of Afghan refugees, he said that the international community, including the US, should play role in the repatriation of refugees from Pakistan.

He said that terrorist activities were being carried out from Afghan soil and that the elements are still involved in creating unrest here, he added.