ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army Wednesday warned that any ‘misunderstandings’ between US and Pakistan could negatively impact security situation in Afghanistan.
In the wake of President Trump’s scathing statement against Pakistan, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor told a private TV channel though the bilateral relations went through several ups and downs, Pakistan and the US were still ‘friends’. “We are friends and allies and war cannot be fought with allies,” he said. “There have been several occasions where Pakistan sided with US … at one time Pakistan had the option to become an ally of Russia but it opted for the US.” He said Pakistan will never compromise on its prestige and integrity. He said that Pakistan had actively cooperated with the coalition forces in Afghanistan and the efforts should be enhanced to bring peace in Afghanistan.
The DG ISPR said India’s destabilising role was the biggest obstacle in regional peace as it did not want Pakistan to succeed in its fight against terrorism. He said the new US policy for the region mentions that India would be provided with a lead role in security issues. “We don’t need a security guarantee from anyone … we are a responsible nation and will continue our role in establishing peace in the region,” he said, adding, “US has to realise that there is a context to our relations with India and we have unresolved issues. It will be impossible to establish peace in the region without resolving these issues.”
The ISPR chief maintained that India played a very negative role in connection with bringing peace in Afghanistan as well as the region.
He alleged that India used the Afghan soil against Pakistan and supported terrorism in the country, which is evident from the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav.
The ISPR chief pointed towards the Indian background of US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. “US should find out the elements which are aiming at deteriorating the US-Pakistan cooperation,” he said. He said that Pakistani nation’s collective response to Trump’s tweet was a positive sign.
Published in Daily Times, January 4th 2018.
