Source/Credit: Khaleej Times Online
By Haseeb Haider | May 16, 2011
ABU DHABI - Pakistan has asked the United States to stop drone attacks on its tribal areas with Afghanistan, as they are counter-productive and encouraging extremism in the country, making nation’s fight against terrorism all the more difficult.
“Our sovereignty must be respected,” said Minister of Interior Rehman Malik during a brief speech at a community gathering in Abu Dhabi.
“I hope the US will listen to this voice... because this voice is coming from no less forum than Parliament of Pakistan,” the minister said, referring to the unanimous resolution adopted on Friday on the unilateral US raid to kill Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Malik complained that Pakistan, a close US ally of the US in the ‘war on terror’ was not informed of the operation, on its territory.
The minister said that even after Abbotabad episode his country would continue fighting the war against militants.
“Obsama bin Laden was the enemy of Islam and Pakistan, as Al Qaeda is working to destabilise the Islamic republic,” he said.
Malik said, “Al Qaeda has carried out the worst terrorist attacks on Pakistan Army’s its General Headquarters or GHQ, along with the headquarters of Pakistan Navy, regional bases of ISI and the paramilitary’s outposts,” calling it as enough proof of Pakistan’s commitment to the war.
He complained that Pakistan has sacrificed 35,000 lives of innocent citizens and army personnel, but some “people are raising doubts about Pakistan’s sincerity to the fight against militancy” which is regretful.
About the intelligence failure in tracing Osama bin Laden, the minister said that it can happen. Referring to the attacks on the World Trade Centre, Malik said, those who attacked them got their flying training in that country and were not traced.
“Pakistan’s courage and commitment is evident from the arrest of more than 248 key Al Qaeda operatives that has broken the backbone of the terrorist organisation.
“That’s the reason Al Qaeda has been joined by Taleban and other outfits to wage war on Pakistan and its defence forces, he added. Without naming any country, he alleged that many terrorists who got injured while fighting with Pakistani forces were being treated at the government hospitals in a neighbouring nation.
news@khaleejtimes.com
Read original post here:Malik: US must respect Pak sovereign
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.