RAWALPINDI: A senior security official while maintaining that Pakistan was pursuing a balanced policy on Monday said that the perception of Pakistan likely to be the next target is devoid of facts and was highly misplaced.
“Pakistan can never be equated with Iran as both countries are different militarily, foreign policy, external engagement wise and internal dynamics”, the security official while talking to media said.
He mentioned that Pakistan pursues a robust foreign policy and values its relations with multiple global stakeholders and believes in engagement for the sake of stability and prosperity of people of Pakistan. “Pakistan’s relationship with rest of the world are based on mutual respect and trust,” he said.
He pointed out Pakistan has unequivocally expressed its concerns over targeting of brotherly Arab countries by Iran. The security official said Iran has also appreciated Pakistan’s response along with China and Russia and Pakistan is desirous of a stable and peaceful Iran.
Pakistan greatly values its decade-old brotherly and strategic relations with KSA and at the same time Pakistan has expressed concerns over unfortunate events in Iran.
He said Pakistan is fully capable of defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity and the same has been displayed during recent events of Marka-e-Haq and our protracted fight against the scourge of terrorism. “Pakistan’s armed forces with the support of their brave and resilient nation will thwart all nefarious designs of our enemies. Anyone having any doubt is most welcome to get his notions settled,” he told media.
Pakistan strongly denounces such misperceptions created by agents of chaos to achieve their nefarious and vested interests. On joining the International Stabiliation Force (ISF), the senior security official said details regarding ISF are yet to be worked out while the decision of Pakistan participation will be taken by government of Pakistan after due diligence. Talking about protests against martyrdom of the Irani supreme leader, he said while peaceful protests is the right of people, violence in the garb of protests cannot be condoned. “Any attempt to create chaos in the country will be dealt as per law and a few miscreants cannot be permitted to bring bad name to peaceful protesters,” he warned.
He said that Pakistan is in no hurry to end operation Ghazab-lil-Haq and it is the time for the terror supporters and abettors to bleed and suffer. “The duration of Pakistan operations depends on actions on ground by Afghan Taliban Regime,” he said. He maintained that Pakistan was not resorting to attacking random targets in Afghanistan, rather the infrastructure supportive to terrorists groups are specific targets.
