"No safe heavens" in Pakistan Muazam Khan
Pakistan Saturday strongly rebutted the assertions
made recently by US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta regarding "safe
heavens" in Pakistan.Panetta said in Kabul on Thursday that United States is reaching the
limits of its patience with Pakistan because of the safe havens the
country offered to insurgents in neighboring Afghanistan."We feel that the Secretary of Defence is oversimplifying some of the
very complex issues we are all dealing with in our efforts against
extremism and terrorism," the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said.
"These issues need to be seen in the context of overall peace and stability in Afghanistan and the broader region," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement.He said that Pakistan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory to be used against any country, nor will it allow any safe heavens on its territory.
"We are fighting terrorism and extremism in our own national interest and nobody should doubt our resolve and determination in this regard. Our sacrifices remain unparalleled and our resolve unshakable," spokesman Muazam Khan said.He said Pakistan is following a well thought-out strategy to eradicate the menace of extremism and terrorism and will follow its own time line."We strongly believe that such statements are misplaced and unhelpful in bringing about peace and stability in the region," the Pakistani spokesman said.
Paneta also said in New Delhi on Wednesday that the U.S. would continue drone strikes in Pakistan tribal regions despite the country's opposition.
The Foreign Ministry also showed angry reaction at a time when a senior US defence official has arrived in Islamabad for talks with Pakistani officials on the reopening of supply routes for NATO forces in Afghanistan.US Assistant Defence Secretary Peter Levoy, leading an American delegation, will meet foreign, defence and finance ministry officials to discuss ways how to normalize relationship between the close allies.
Pakistan closed NATO supply line as a protest against airstrike on Pakistani border posts in November by US fighter jets, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers.
"These issues need to be seen in the context of overall peace and stability in Afghanistan and the broader region," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement.He said that Pakistan has repeatedly said that it will not allow its territory to be used against any country, nor will it allow any safe heavens on its territory.
"We are fighting terrorism and extremism in our own national interest and nobody should doubt our resolve and determination in this regard. Our sacrifices remain unparalleled and our resolve unshakable," spokesman Muazam Khan said.He said Pakistan is following a well thought-out strategy to eradicate the menace of extremism and terrorism and will follow its own time line."We strongly believe that such statements are misplaced and unhelpful in bringing about peace and stability in the region," the Pakistani spokesman said.
Paneta also said in New Delhi on Wednesday that the U.S. would continue drone strikes in Pakistan tribal regions despite the country's opposition.
The Foreign Ministry also showed angry reaction at a time when a senior US defence official has arrived in Islamabad for talks with Pakistani officials on the reopening of supply routes for NATO forces in Afghanistan.US Assistant Defence Secretary Peter Levoy, leading an American delegation, will meet foreign, defence and finance ministry officials to discuss ways how to normalize relationship between the close allies.
Pakistan closed NATO supply line as a protest against airstrike on Pakistani border posts in November by US fighter jets, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers.
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