Pakistan lodges protest over US Defence Department report

Sartaj Aziz says allegations in the report of terrorist sanctuaries are of particular concern with Zarb-e-Azb underway

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan lodged a strong protest on Wednesday with the United States of America over comments contained in the US Department of Defence report sent to the Congress under the titled “Progress Towards Security and Stability in Afghanistan”.

Pakistan’s protest to the “unwarranted comments" was conveyed by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to US Ambassador Richard Olson at the foreign ministry.

“While noting Pakistan’s cooperation with the US in areas of mutual interests, the recently released report also carries unsubstantiated allegations of the existence of terrorist “sanctuaries” or that proxy forces are operating from here against Afghanistan and India,” the Foreign Affairs statement read.

Reiterating Pakistan’s resolve to fight terrorism, the statement added: “Such allegations are of particular concern at this point when Pakistan government has launched comprehensive operations against militants in North Waziristan."

“The military operation Zarb-e-Azb has been broadly welcomed internationally, including in the US. The operation has successfully eliminated terrorist hideouts and is directed against all militants, without any distinction. We therefore hope that the issues will be seen in their correct perspective,” the statement further said.