War against terrorism: Pakistan urges Kabul to exploit Zarb-e-Azb gains

Sartaj Aziz says Afghanistan should capitalise on dividends to facilitate peace process

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has advised Afghanistan to take advantage of the gains made against militants through the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb, apparently reiterating that action be taken against fleeing terrorists taking refuge across the border.

The statement came from Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in response to a question while talking to the media about the Nato summit 2016, which kicked off on Friday in Warsaw.

“We expect that as we intensify our efforts to facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan, they [Kabul] will also capitalise on the dividends of these counter-terrorism operations to facilitate this process,” said Aziz.

He added that Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan and concerted operations against terrorists in other parts of Pakistan have been very successful and as a result, dividends have started reaching the people of Pakistan.

The 2016 summit opened in the Polish capital on Friday, said to be of paramount importance to both the Atlantic and Europe facing uneasy post-Brexit negotiations and what the bloc calls a ‘resurgent’ Russia.

At the summit, Nato and the EU issued their first joint declaration on security cooperation, pledging to work together particularly in the fields of hybrid warfare and cyberwarfare, as well as joint maritime operations to prevent illegal migration.

The Nato summit, Adviser Aziz said, is taking place under the shadow of terrorism, turmoil and continuing conflicts. Within the last week alone, the world has seen major terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

“Terrorism can only be defeated with unity and cooperation of the international community,” he added while appreciating the world’s recent recognition of Pakistan’s continuing fight against terrorists.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2016.