Fighting militancy: Foreign Office clarifies Sartaj Aziz’s remarks
Says Operation Zarb-e-Azb launched against all groups without any distinction
ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Office on Tuesday clarified that Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz’s interview with BBC Urdu in which he said that Pakistan should not target militants who do not pose a threat to the country’s security was made in a ‘historical context.’
“America’s enemies have become our enemies for no reason,” Aziz said during the interview on Monday. “When the United States attacked Afghanistan, all those that were trained and armed were pushed towards us. Some of them were dangerous for us and some are not. Why should we antagonise them all?” he added.
His remarks were interpreted as if Pakistan was still drawing a distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban. However, a statement issued by the Foreign Office dismissed such an impression and emphasised that Pakistan launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb against all groups “without any distinction or discrimination”.
The statement explained that Pakistan’s policy and actions should be seen in the light of its commitment to fighting terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
Aziz’s statement came at a time when army chief General Raheel Sharif is in the United States on his first visit to convince his sceptical American interlocutors that Pakistan’s military is targeting all militant outfits.
Pakistan’s military in recent months has publicly stated that its ongoing offensive in North Waziristan Agency targeted deadliest Afghan insurgent group, the Haqqani Network.
The Haqqani network had been long viewed by the US and Afghanistan as a group which remained connected to the Pakistan’s security establishment. However, Islamabad rejected the charge and insisted that it has ‘zero tolerance’ for all terrorist groups.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2014.
The Foreign Office on Tuesday clarified that Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz’s interview with BBC Urdu in which he said that Pakistan should not target militants who do not pose a threat to the country’s security was made in a ‘historical context.’
“America’s enemies have become our enemies for no reason,” Aziz said during the interview on Monday. “When the United States attacked Afghanistan, all those that were trained and armed were pushed towards us. Some of them were dangerous for us and some are not. Why should we antagonise them all?” he added.
His remarks were interpreted as if Pakistan was still drawing a distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban. However, a statement issued by the Foreign Office dismissed such an impression and emphasised that Pakistan launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb against all groups “without any distinction or discrimination”.
The statement explained that Pakistan’s policy and actions should be seen in the light of its commitment to fighting terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
Aziz’s statement came at a time when army chief General Raheel Sharif is in the United States on his first visit to convince his sceptical American interlocutors that Pakistan’s military is targeting all militant outfits.
Pakistan’s military in recent months has publicly stated that its ongoing offensive in North Waziristan Agency targeted deadliest Afghan insurgent group, the Haqqani Network.
The Haqqani network had been long viewed by the US and Afghanistan as a group which remained connected to the Pakistan’s security establishment. However, Islamabad rejected the charge and insisted that it has ‘zero tolerance’ for all terrorist groups.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2014.