Army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa. PHOTO: ISPR
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement on Monday’s meeting between Gen Qamar and US National Security Adviser Lt Gen HR McMaster at the GHQ. The ISPR did issue a brief statement the same day but a detailed version was released on Tuesday.
According to the military’s media wing, the army chief during the meeting with McMaster highlighted that the distinguished feature of Pakistan’s counter terrorism effort is that it is focused against terrorists of all hue and colour.
“Pakistan itself is a victim of state-sponsored terrorism … [and] strongly rejects allegations of employing proxies from its soil,” Gen Qamar told the top US official, who was briefed about Pakistan’s war on terror and its contributions to regional and global stability.
US NSA meets COAS. "Pak itself is victim of state sponsored terrorism, it strongly rejects allegations of employing proxies from its soil". pic.twitter.com/xMjgM1uasi
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 18, 2017
The American official acknowledged Pakistan Army's efforts in eliminating terrorists and their infrastructure, assuring US support to bring peace and stability in the region and globe.
MacMaster was the first high ranking official of the Trump administration to visit Pakistan. His trip was part of regional consultations that also took him to Kabul and New Delhi. The purpose of the visit was to assess the situation on the ground before the Trump administration announces a new policy for Afghanistan.
Pakistani National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua, who also met McMaster, also denied the country was providing any sanctuaries to Afghan Taliban. "Had Pakistan been providing sanctuaries to the Taliban, they would not have turned against us," Janjua told a seminar on Tuesday.
Trump's national security adviser on unannounced visit to Pakistan
US NSA ack Pak Army's efforts in eliminating Ts and their infrastructure, assuring US sp to bring peace & stability in the region and globe. pic.twitter.com/wGTbdgC0Pk
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 18, 2017
Meanwhile, US Acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Laurel Miller called on Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday. Fatemi was assisted by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and senior officials of the foreign ministry.
Fatemi noted that the visit by Lt Gen McMaster provided a good opportunity for both sides to reaffirm their commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship and to engage in a meaningful conversation on exploring ways and means to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.
He underscored the important role the strategic dialogue had played in facilitating mutually beneficial cooperation between the US and Pakistan. He also elaborated on the policies and initiatives taken by the government to create a better security environment and to achieve economic turnaround in Pakistan.
On terrorism, Fatemi noted that the successful counterterrorism operations, as part of the National Action Plan, represented the national resolve to fight terrorism without discrimination and had resulted in tangible across-the-board results.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and conveyed Pakistan’s readiness to work with the US to support efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
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