RAWALPINDI: Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa said on Wednesday that Pakistan was ready to help the United States and Nato for peace in Afghanistan, but Pakistan’s security concerns need to be addressed.

Speaking at the end of the event held on the lawns of General Headquarters (GHQ) to mark the country’s 52nd Defence Day in commemoration of the 1965 war with India, the army chief sought to respond to international concerns about the alleged presence of terrorist groups and their safe havens on Pakistani soil.

In his 15-minute speech delivered in Urdu, the army chief gave an insight into how Pakistan planned to stay away from conflict in Afghanistan and carry forward its domestic fight against terrorism.

His speech was particularly significant as it was delivered at a time when Pakistan is preparing its strategy on future engagement with the United States after the announcement of the new US policy on Afghanistan and South Asia.

Government ministers have earlier hinted that Pakistan would remain engaged with the US.

Gen Bajwa said Pakistan had already suffered a lot in the wars started by superpowers in terms of financial losses and extremism and terrorism that engulfed the country, but would not endure any further costs.

“We cannot fight Afgha­nistan’s war in Pakistan,” he said in an apparent response to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement that Pakistan is expected to “take decisive action against militant groups based in Pakistan that are a threat to the region”.

Army chief says country has already suffered a lot in wars started by superpowers in terms of financial losses, extremism and terrorism

The general said Pakistan had previously tried its best for peace in Afghanistan, but if the Afghan factions were bent on war, his country would not become part of it.

Spelling out Pakistan’s strategy, he said for complete impartiality in Afghan conflict Pakistan would want an early repatriation of Afghan refugees from its soil and securing of 2,600km porous border with Afghanistan, which it has already started fencing.

He said Pakistan also expected that sanctuaries of Pakistani terrorists on Afghan soil would be quickly and effectively removed.

Responding to international criticism of Pakistan’s counterterrorism effort, Gen Bajwa said if international powers could not extend a helping hand in fighting terrorism, they should also avoid shifting the blame for their failure to Pakistan.

He said Pakistan’s fight against terrorism was for its own survival and would be taken to its logical end. The war against extremism and terrorism, he said, had to be won for our future generations. He warned that the whole region would be destabilised if Pakistan faltered in this war.

The army chief said the military was working with other state institutions on key reforms without which the National Action Plan could not be successfully implemented. In this respect, he mentioned educational / seminaries reforms, police reforms and legal reforms.

He also addressed those who had joined the ranks of militant groups describing them as “misguided” and said they needed to review their actions that were hurting their country and their people and serving the enemies of Pakistan.

In a speech that was marked with high-pitched rhetoric, he underscored the sustainable success against terrorism was not possible without national unity and support.

Speaking about India, he advised the Indian leadership to seek political and diplomatic solution of the Kashmir issue instead of maligning Pakistan and suppressing the uprising. He said India, besides fomenting terrorism in Pakistan, was seizing its waters.

Gen Bajwa said Pakistan was vigilant against enemy designs and vowed to defeat them.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2017