Islamabad, Jan 12: A few weeks after US President Donald Trump suspended nearly all security assistance to Pakistan, worth USD 1.15 billion, for harbouring terror groups within its land, Pakistani Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday said the country will not seek resumption of suspended US military aid. Bajwa also said that Pakistan feels “betrayed” by the critical statements against Islamabad’s fight against terrorism.
“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) reiterated that Pakistan will not seek resumption of aid but expect honourable recognition of our contributions, sacrifices and unwavering resolve in (the) fight against terrorism for peace and stability in the region,” according to the statement,” the army spokesman said in a statement today.
“The COAS said that Pakistan shall continue its sincere counter terrorism efforts even without US financial support in accordance with our national interest and shall remain committed to bring it to its logical conclusion along with other stake holders,” the statement further added. The Pakistani Army Chief also said that the country will keep supporting all peace initiatives in Afghanistan.
Bajwa said that following Trump’s tweet accusing Pakistan of providing “safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan”, he received two telephone calls from Commander US Central Command (CENTCOM) General Joseph L. Votel and an unidentified US Senator to discuss Pak-US security cooperation.
Gen Bajwa said that Pakistan has suffered enough over the great power congestion in the region and is aware of US concerns on activities of Afghan nationals in Pakistan. “We are already undertaking multiple actions through Operation ‘Radd ul Fasaad’ to deny any residual capacity to terrorists of all hue and colour for which return of Afghan refugees is an essential prerequisite,” he said, reported PTI.
The American ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Thursday said that Pakistan has not done “all that they could” to get rid of the terror organisations operating within its land which has forced the United States to suspend all the security assistance to the country.
“President Trump and other US leaders have been clear that we will not tolerate cross-border terrorism or terrorist safe havens anywhere,” Juster said.