Pakistan wants credit for terror fight, not money, Gen Qamar tells CENTCOM chief

We have conducted operations against terrorists of all hues, COAS tells General Votel

RAWALPINDI: Amid relentless criticism of Pakistan from the Trump administration, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has told a top US military commander that Pakistan doesn’t need aid, all it wants is acknowledgement of its efforts in the fight against terrorism.

“More than financial or material assistance, we seek acknowledgement of our decades-long contributions towards regional peace and stability, understanding of our challenges and most importantly the sacrifices Pakistani nation and its security forces have rendered in [the] fight against terrorism and militancy,” he told Centcom chief General Joseph L Votel during a meeting at the GHQ on Friday.

Gen Qamar’s statement came as the Trump administration and US Congress have adopted an aggressive approach towards Pakistan, pressuring it to dismantle ‘terror network’ on its soil.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced at a recent Congress hearing an inter-agency review of US funding and support to Pakistan. In line with the decision, the US Defence Department withheld $50 million in Pakistan military payments after Pentagon chief Jim Mattis accused Islamabad of not doing enough to counter the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network.

Pentagon spokesman Stump said the decision did not "reduce the significance of the sacrifices that the Pakistani military has undertaken over previous years."  He said Pakistan still had time to take action against the Haqqani network in order to receive reimbursements next year.

Commander USCENTCOM and delegation met COAS. "No other country has more interest for peace in Afghanistan than Pakistan", COAS. (1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/GQ5dEzbLGd

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) August 18, 2017

Pakistan argues that it has done a great deal to help the US in tracking down terrorists and points out that it has suffered hundreds of deaths in militant attacks in response to its crackdowns.

Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, said Islamabad had continued to fight militants.  “It may be noted that the funds in question are a reimbursement of the expenses incurred by Pakistan towards achieving our common objectives in the fight against terrorism, and not an assistance,” Chaudhry said in a statement.

At Friday’s GHQ meeting, Centcom commander Gen Votel, who was leading a high-level delegation to Pakistan, discussed matters of professional interest, with special focus on the security situation in Afghanistan were discussed, according to the military’s media wing, the ISPR. US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale was also present on the occasion..

"More than financial or material assistance, we seek ack of our contributions & sacrifices, and understanding of our challenges" COAS.(2of2) pic.twitter.com/HsTnqZqrFX

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) August 18, 2017

The army chief highlighted the importance Pakistan accords to its relations with the US, particularly “security cooperation and efforts towards regional stability”. “Pakistan has undertaken operations against terrorists of all hue and colour,” the ISPR quoted him as saying.

Gen Qamar reiterated his commitment to work in close coordination with the Afghan security forces and the US-led Resolute Support Mission for improved security environment in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of not doing enough to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries from its soil despite providing Kabul with ‘actionable evidence’. While referring to Afghanistan and Pak-US relations, the army chief said: “No other country has more interest for peace in Afghanistan than Pakistan.”