Terrorism is more of a concern to Pakistan that its neighbor, says Nafees Zakaria.
AB Wire
Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Nafees Zakaria on Monday lashed out at the US deputy spokesperson Mark Toner for his comments about Pakistan acting selectively on terrorism.
Terming the remarks of the US deputy spokesperson Mark Toner ‘misplaced and self-contradictory,’ Pakistan Foreign Minister spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, “We have taken a serious note of the remarks made by the US deputy spokesperson, which are self-contradictory and oblivious of the fact that Pakistan has taken concrete measures to counter terrorism in a phase-wise manner keeping in view Pakistan’s national security concerns.”
Recently, US deputy spokesperson Mark Toner had said that Pakistan was selective in targeting terrorists. “Pakistan is selective in targeting terrorists and does not go after those threatening its neighbors. Pakistan should act against terror groups targeting its neighbors and not just the ones that pose a threat to it,” he said on Thursday.
Nafees Zakaria said that Senator John McCain and other US legislators and congressmen who visited Pakistan recently had acknowledged the achievement made by Pakistan in fighting terrorism.
“Recently, Senator John McCain visited Pakistan along with some other Senators and Congressmen. They were unanimous in acknowledging the remarkable achievements made by Pakistan in its counter-terrorism drive. They visited Miramshah and observed the situation on the ground for themselves. Senator McCain, on his return also wrote an article on his experience in Pakistan,” Zakaria said.
Without mentioning India, the spokesperson said that terrorism was more of a concern to Pakistan that its neighbor. “The arrest of the neighbor’s active service officer who publicly confessed his state’s involvement in perpetrating and financing terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan surprisingly did not prompt any statement by the US,” he said.
Pakistan has lost over 60000 human lives and billions of dollars while fighting terrorism. In a veiled attack on India, Zakaria said that the forces of the neighboring country are forcefully suppressing the protest of the people of Kashmir who are fighting for their right to self-determination.
“Given these ground realities together with the inhuman treatment meted out by the ‘neighbour’s’ forces to the defenseless and innocent people struggling for their right to self-determination, the remarks of the Deputy Spokesperson are misplaced and are not sensitive to Pakistan’s security concerns,” said Zakaria.