China Pakistan Economic Corridor Guarantees peace and prosperity
for the entire region: Army Chief General Bajwa
Hitting back at those who are questioning Pakistan’s credentials
in the fight against terrorism, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on
Wednesday asked the world to do more and warned that the entire region would be
destabilised if Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign fails.
In a speech delivered at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to mark Defence Day, the chief of Pakistan Army staffs (COAS) forcefully defended Pakistan’s gains against terrorism while vehemently dismissing allegations of double-crossing anyone.
In a speech delivered at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to mark Defence Day, the chief of Pakistan Army staffs (COAS) forcefully defended Pakistan’s gains against terrorism while vehemently dismissing allegations of double-crossing anyone.
“If Pakistan has not done enough against terrorism, then no
country in the world has done enough,” the army chief insisted while saying
that now the time had come for the world to do more.
Pakistan has been in the spotlight ever since US President
Donald Trump unveiled a new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia. Trump,
while seeking a greater role for India in Afghanistan, accused Pakistan of
supporting and harbouring the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network.
Against this backdrop, the army chief had a clear message for
the United States.
He rejected the allegations and insisted that Pakistan’s fight
against terrorism was indiscriminate and targeted all militant groups. He said
Pakistan had done more than any country in the fight against terrorism, yet “we
are being accused of having a selective approach.”
“The sentiments of the people are quite clear on the current
state of relationship with the US. We don’t need aid. We want to be treated
with respect and trust. Our efforts and sacrifices need to be acknowledged,” he
asserted.
But he also reiterated the state’s desire to maintain a good
relationship with the US and NATO. “We will support every single United State
Of America and NATO initiative that leads to peace in the region in general and
Afghanistan in particular,” he said, while noting that Pakistan’s security
concerns should also be addressed, referring to the growing Indian role in
Afghanistan, which Pakistan believes could be counterproductive( CPEC News
Media).
Pakistan has long suspected India of using Afghan soil to foment
violence in the country.
Gen Bajwa said that if the world could not help and assist
Pakistan in its campaign against terrorism, at least it should not cast
aspersions.
“Credit goes to Pakistan that with limited resources, it has
achieved phenomenal success in the war against terrorism,” the army chief
maintained.
He said the war that was imposed on Pakistan would be taken to
its logical conclusion.
The army chief made it clear that only the state could sanction
‘jihad’, and that right must be exercised by the state. He urged detractors to
shun the path of violence, reminding them that their act was “not jihad but
fasaad” (terrorism)( CPEC New Updates).
He said the army was working with the government and other
institutions to introduce new reforms as without such initiatives, the National
Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism would remain incomplete.
NAP envisaged reforms in education, religious seminaries, police
and judiciary in order to eliminate terrorism, he maintained. ( CPEC News
Media)
On Afghanistan, the army chief said Pakistan had done much more
than its capacity. This, he added, did not mean that Pakistan would fight the
Afghan war on its soil. He stressed that there was a clear line as to the
extent Pakistan could cooperate with its neighbor.
“We have made sincere efforts for talks and peace. However,
Afghanistan is a sovereign country which is independent and takes its own
decisions,” he said.
He said that if Afghan factions opted for the path of war,
Pakistan would not become party to it. He said Pakistan was taking steps to
secure its side of the porous 2,600km border with Afghanistan. ( CPEC News
Media)
“We are fencing the entire border and establishing over 900
posts,” he said, while also recommending the repatriation of Afghan refugees in
an orderly manner.
He also touched upon the importance of the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC)). “CHINA PAKISTAN
ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC) not only guarantees peace and prosperity for Pakistan,
but for the entire region.”
The army chief said Pakistan was keeping an eye on the ‘enemy’
which was trying to create instability in Afghanistan. “I want to tell all the
anti-state elements that Pakistan is fully aware of their ulterior motives and
is ready to fight the menace of terrorism.”
“We are proud of the people of Balochistan who have rejected
terrorism and separatism outright.”
He said one of the main objectives of the enemy to foment
violence in Balochistan was to undermine CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR
(CPEC) and jeopardise Pak-China friendship.
“We are against war and terrorism. We want relationship with all
countries based on mutual respect and equality.”
He said everyone could see India’s excesses in Occupied Kashmir
and its role in the disintegration of Pakistan. ( “India’s plans now include
openly supporting terrorists and usurping our water resources.” )
He said it pained Pakistan to see the current unrest in Indian
Occupied Kashmir, and that the future of millions of people living in Pakistan
and India was linked to prosperity and long-term peace.
But to achieve that objective, it is necessary for there to be
an immediate end to the bloodshed across the Line of Control, he stressed.
The Pakistan Army chief said India must realise that the youth of Kashmir
did not need outside help or assistance to carry out their ‘peaceful struggle’
for the right to self-determination.
“This is in the interest of India. Instead of abusing Kashmiris
and using guns against Pakistan, it must opt for political and diplomatic
solutions to the longstanding Kashmir dispute,” he argued.
He said Pakistan would continue to extend political, moral, and
diplomatic support to Kashmiris for the right to self-determination in line
with the UNSC resolutions.
The army chief said Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and
made it clear that it was not the country which started the nuclear arms race
in South Asia, referring to India’s 1974 nuclear test.
“Our nuclear program is just a deterrent against the enemy that
imposed this unconventional war on us.”
He said that today, efforts are being made to resolve all issues
through better understanding and wisdom, whether it be establishing peace in
FATA, the development of Baluchistan, relationships with regional countries, or
any international issues. “[The armed forces] provide full input to state
institutions as Pakistan’s prosperity and future is linked to the strengthening
of institutions.”
He said strong democratic, constitutional, and legal traditions
strengthened the entire country.
Earlier, he paid a glowing tribute to war veterans and those who
lost their lives fighting for the motherland in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
The ceremony at GHQ was attended by former army chief General
(retd) Raheel Sharif, the speaker of the National Assembly, the opposition
leader in the National Assembly, the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and
interior, as well as members of the diplomatic community.. ( CPEC News Media)
No comments:
Post a Comment