SIALKOT: Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Pakistan has ever wanted to have peaceful relations with its neighbors, but they are not giving a positive response to its peace initiatives.
He was addressing party workers’ convention at Mianapura here late Friday evening.
He said that Pakistan would continue its role in establishing peace in the world and weeding out terrorism, militancy, insurgency, and extremism from Pakistan by securing its eastern and western borders.
Kh Asif said that there was no doubt that the defense of Pakistan was in very strong hands, as the government had made national defense hard to beat. No one could dare to see Pakistan with an evil eye, he added.
He said that the armed forces of Pakistan had full capabilities to defend every inch of the motherland, adding that the nation stands united against terrorism and was ready to sacrifice their lives for weeding out terrorism.
The foreign minister said that Nawaz Sharif was still ruling the hearts of masses, adding that people still consider Nawaz Sharif as a great leader of the country, who put the country on the road to development, prosperity and economic stability.
Kh Asif strongly criticized political opponent Asif Ali Zardari for using objectionable language against Nawaz Sharif and the top leadership of the PML-N.
He said that the PML-N was the biggest political party in the country, which would again come into power with the power of the vote.
He said that the PML-N was ensuring the sanctity of vote and respect of voters and their mandate, adding that only the ‘thumb impression’ on the ballot papers could change the destiny of the nation, and not the finger of any umpire.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that politically mature people have rejected the ongoing negative politics and confrontation by political jugglers in the country.
He said that the PML-N government was fulfilling all its political promises, saying that only the PML-N had the capability to serve the nation and the country in a better way.
He said that this time people would vote the PML-N on the basis of its performance in every sector during the general elections. He said that only the PML-N government had delivered by honoring all
its commitments and political promises, especially ending the inherited energy crisis and load-shedding of electricity in the country.
Pakistan Wants Peaceful Relations With Its Neighbours — Khawaja Asif
Pakistan Wants Peaceful Relations With Its Neighbours — Khawaja Asif
Peace can only prevail if Afghanistan renounces support for ‘terrorism’— Pakistan defense chief
- Pakistan’s chief of defense forces visits South Waziristan district bordering Afghanistan
- Pakistan says has killed 481 Afghan Taliban operatives since clashes began last Thursday
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said on Wednesday that peace with Afghanistan can only prevail if Kabul renounces support for “terrorism” and “terrorist” organizations, the military’s media wing said as the two countries remain locked in conflict.
Fighting between the two neighbors, the worst in decades, broke out last Thursday night after Afghan forces attacked Pakistan’s military installations along their shared border. Afghanistan said its attacks were in response to earlier airstrikes by Pakistan against alleged militant hideouts in its country.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant outfits such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on its soil who have launched attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces in recent years. Kabul denies the allegations.
Munir visited Wana town in Pakistan’s South Waziristan district to review the security situation and troops’ operational preparedness at the Afghan border, the Pakistani military’s media wing said in a statement.
“The Field Marshal reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organizations,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The military chief said the use of Afghan soil by militant outfits to launch attacks against Pakistan was unacceptable, vowing that “all necessary measures” would be taken to neutralize cross-border threats.
During the visit, Munir was briefed by military commanders about ongoing intelligence-based operations and measures being taken by the military to manage the border with Afghanistan.
He was also briefed about “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq” or “Wrath for the Truth,” the name Pakistan has given to its military operation against Afghan forces, the ISPR said.
The Pakistani military chief spoke to troops deployed in the area, praising their vigilance, professional conduct and high morale, the ISPR said.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the military has killed 481 Taliban operatives, injured more than 690 and destroyed 226 Afghan checkposts since clashes began.
Arab News has been unable to verify claims by both sides about the damages they claim to have inflicted on each other.
Afghanistan has signaled it is open for dialogue but Pakistan rejected the offer, saying it would continue its military operations till its objectives were achieved.
Since the conflict began, diplomatic efforts have intensified with several countries, including global bodies such as the European Union and United Nations, urging restraint and calling for talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Ankara would help reinstate a ceasefire, the Turkish Presidency said on Tuesday, as other countries that had offered to mediate have since been hit by the conflict in the Gulf.
