He regretted that despite repeated assurances, the Afghan regime never fulfilled its commitment and instead the terrorist attacks with evidenced involvement of Afghanistan increased manifold across Pakistan
Ansar M Bhatti/DNA
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan remains a strong proponent of regional peace and stability but it will make no compromise on its sovereignty and safety of its people.
He was briefing members of diplomatic corps in Islamabad this afternoon about Pakistan’s position on regional situation and its ongoing response against the unprovoked aggression of Afghan Taliban regime.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan did everything it could for peace and stability in Afghanistan, whether through humanitarian relief assistance, hosting refugees, or providing scholarships to Afghan students. He said Pakistan’s only demand from Afghanistan was to take action against the TTP and other terrorist outfits operating from their soil.
He regretted that despite repeated assurances, the Afghan regime never fulfilled its commitment and instead the terrorist attacks with evidenced involvement of Afghanistan increased manifold across Pakistan. He said these attacks even targeted civilians and places of worships.
Ishaq Dar said it is in this backdrop and following Afghanistan’s provocative actions on Thursday last, that Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq.
He, however, made it clear that all attacks by Pakistan’s security forces under this Operation are very precise, proportionate and measured based on intelligence and it is being ensured that no civilian is targeted in these attacks.
He said Pakistan is acting in self-defence and exercising maximum restraint in accordance with the international law and UN Charter.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan expects the international community to condemn the terrorist threat which is emanating from Afghanistan and is destabilizing the whole region.
He expressed the hope that the international community will urge the Taliban regime to uphold its commitment to not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against the neighboring countries.
On the regional situation, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan is in contact with all brotherly countries in the region and all its efforts are focused on de-escalation and resumption of dialogue and diplomacy.
He further said that UN charter and diplomatic norms does not allow anybody to target head of states. He regretted the supreme leader of Iran was targeted and assassinated.
