RAWALPINDI: Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan (CRSMA) Commander General John Nicholson and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Olson on Friday called on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif here at the General Headquarters.
Regional security situation, with particular reference to border management, peace and stability in Afghanistan in the post May 21 US drone strike environment came under discussion, according to a news release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.
Expressing his serious concern on the US drone strike in Balochistan as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, the army chief highlighted as to how it had impacted the mutual trust and respect and was counter-productive in consolidating the gains of Zarb-e-Azb military operation.
All efforts for durable peace in the region have to be synergised with shared commitment and responsibility in order to make them successful. While the Zarb-e-Azb was launched against terrorists of all hues and sanctuaries of terrorists have been dismantled without discrimination, all stakeholders need to understand Pakistan’s challenges with regard to porous border, inter-tribal linkages and decades-old presence of over three million refugees, he said.
Blaming Pakistan for instability in Afghanistan is unfortunate, the statement quoted the army chief as saying. Raising the demand of targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban and Mullah Fazlullah in their bases in Afghanistan, General Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s resolve not to allow hostile intelligence agencies’ efforts, especially RAW and NDS, of fomenting terrorism.
He reaffirmed the need for continuing harmonised efforts against terrorists and effective border management as ways to regional peace and stability. He said that Pakistan was committed to work for a long-term peace process for Afghanistan under the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) framework.
