No confrontation between institutions, Ahsan says as he visits martyred soldier's house
Interior minister vows to continue terror war until complete elimination of terrorists
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal. EXPRESS NEWS SCREEN GRAB
NANKANA SAHIB:
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Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Monday there was no confrontation among the institutions of the country, stressing that the army, the nation and the government were on the same page over national issues.
Talking to reporters after offering his condolences to the parents of Captain Hasnain Ali, who embraced martyrdom in Sunday’s blast in Kurram Agency, the minister said that the war against terrorism would continue until all the terrorists were defeated.
Iqbal said there was no confrontation among the institutions. “Nation, army and the government are united like one body,” he said. “The civilian government has the back of the armed forces and vice versa,” he added.
Didn't mean to hurt anyone, I respect every soldier of Pak Army: Ahsan Iqbal
Responding to a question about his statement last week, asking the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general, to refrain from commenting on the country’s economy, Iqbal said he had already issued a clarification and that the matter had been settled.
He said he gave the statement, which was discussed and explained by the army and now the matter was over. “My statement was not against Pakistan Army,” he said. “After their clarification on my statement, the matter has been closed,” he added.
He warned that enemies wanted to fuel an environment of mistrust to achieve their vested objectives. Those trying to create misunderstandings on the national issues would not succeed in their nefarious designs, he added, according to a media report.
Iqbal paid rich tributes to Captain Husnain Ali and three Frontier Corps personnel, who embraced martyrdom when three improvised explosive devices exploded in the border village of Kharlachi in Kurram agency.
Criticism of DG ISPR's comments wasn't confrontational: Ahsan Iqbal
“We are proud of our soldiers rendering sacrifices for the motherland,” Iqbal said. “Personnel of the armed forces are risking their lives, battling the terrorists, and they are our pride,” he added. “Any country having such brave souls cannot be defeated.”
The minister said that the Pakistani nation and the armed forces were confident of success against terrorism. “The security forces and the people stand shoulder to shoulder for the elimination of the menace of terrorism from the country.”
Iqbal said Pakistan was also fighting an economic war but expressed the hope that by 2025, the country would become an economic power. He said there had been an increased pressure on imports due to the investment in energy projects, but stressed that the pressure was bearable.
He noted that there was a twofold increase in the collection of taxes and that the biggest development budget in the country’s history was being implemented. “Pakistan of 2017 is far better than what it was in 2013,” he said.
Referring to the rescue of the Canadian-American couple, the minister said more could be achieved with the close cooperation among all the stakeholders.
“We hope that all international powers and countries affected by terrorism in this region will cooperate with Pakistan. We want this region to be peaceful and want peace to return to Afghanistan,” he said.
[fbvideo link=" https://www.facebook.com/etribunevideo/videos/1567802026613746/"][/fbvideo]
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Monday there was no confrontation among the institutions of the country, stressing that the army, the nation and the government were on the same page over national issues.
Talking to reporters after offering his condolences to the parents of Captain Hasnain Ali, who embraced martyrdom in Sunday’s blast in Kurram Agency, the minister said that the war against terrorism would continue until all the terrorists were defeated.
Iqbal said there was no confrontation among the institutions. “Nation, army and the government are united like one body,” he said. “The civilian government has the back of the armed forces and vice versa,” he added.
Didn't mean to hurt anyone, I respect every soldier of Pak Army: Ahsan Iqbal
Responding to a question about his statement last week, asking the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general, to refrain from commenting on the country’s economy, Iqbal said he had already issued a clarification and that the matter had been settled.
He said he gave the statement, which was discussed and explained by the army and now the matter was over. “My statement was not against Pakistan Army,” he said. “After their clarification on my statement, the matter has been closed,” he added.
He warned that enemies wanted to fuel an environment of mistrust to achieve their vested objectives. Those trying to create misunderstandings on the national issues would not succeed in their nefarious designs, he added, according to a media report.
Iqbal paid rich tributes to Captain Husnain Ali and three Frontier Corps personnel, who embraced martyrdom when three improvised explosive devices exploded in the border village of Kharlachi in Kurram agency.
Criticism of DG ISPR's comments wasn't confrontational: Ahsan Iqbal
“We are proud of our soldiers rendering sacrifices for the motherland,” Iqbal said. “Personnel of the armed forces are risking their lives, battling the terrorists, and they are our pride,” he added. “Any country having such brave souls cannot be defeated.”
The minister said that the Pakistani nation and the armed forces were confident of success against terrorism. “The security forces and the people stand shoulder to shoulder for the elimination of the menace of terrorism from the country.”
Iqbal said Pakistan was also fighting an economic war but expressed the hope that by 2025, the country would become an economic power. He said there had been an increased pressure on imports due to the investment in energy projects, but stressed that the pressure was bearable.
He noted that there was a twofold increase in the collection of taxes and that the biggest development budget in the country’s history was being implemented. “Pakistan of 2017 is far better than what it was in 2013,” he said.
Referring to the rescue of the Canadian-American couple, the minister said more could be achieved with the close cooperation among all the stakeholders.
“We hope that all international powers and countries affected by terrorism in this region will cooperate with Pakistan. We want this region to be peaceful and want peace to return to Afghanistan,” he said.