RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa recently told a senior defence official of Afghanistan he grieved for Afghan victims of terrorism as much as he did for such victims from Pakistan, the chief military spokesman told a visiting delegation on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the army chief met the Afghan defence attaché in London during his visit to the United Kingdom earlier this week.

ISPR chief Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor told the Afghan media delegation that Gen Bajwa had reassured the defence attaché that every Afghan was dear to him like every Pakistani. “I am as hurt for every Afghan who is a victim of terrorism as much as I am for every Pakistani,” said the COAS, according to the ISPR chief.

The meeting between the COAS and the Afghan defence official came after the March 15 meeting between Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on foreign affairs, and Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar that was also held in London. That meeting, arranged by the UK, was part of an effort to defuse tensions between the two countries over alleged terrorist sanctuaries.

The 13-member media delegation visited the office of the ISPR chief. Representatives of the Pakistani media were also present during the meeting.

They were given a detailed briefing about the Pak-Afghan border and efforts made by Pakistan thus far to improve the situation.

The statement said that the aim of the visit was to let Afghan media know efforts by Pakistan on the war against terrorism, which is a “common threat to both brotherly countries”.

The delegates, it said, were convinced that terrorism had badly affected both the countries and only joint efforts could bring about lasting peace in the region.

It said that during the visit it was concluded that the menace of terrorism had affected both the countries and necessitated greater cooperation based on mutual trust rather than a blame game.

“The visit is expected to enable the visiting media delegation in better understanding of Pakistan’s perspective and efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region for sharing in Afghan media,” it added.

The delegation earlier also visited different ministries including foreign affairs, commerce, states and frontier regions and head offices of different institutions including the Higher Education Commission, Frontier Corps and the national security adviser.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.