Operation against terrorism won’t be left halfway: DG ISPR

WASHINGTON: The operation against terrorists will not be left midway and it will be taken to its logical conclusion, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen AsimFriday, adding that Pakistan has a zero tolerance for Daesh and the terrorist group has no acceptance in the country.
Briefing reporters about the visit of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif to Washington, the DG ISPR said the Army chief held discussions with US top civilian and military leadership on issues ranging from defence and military cooperation to issues of regional security and stability, including the long running Kashmir dispute with India.
On the question of Daesh, the Pak army spokesman quoted the army chief that Daesh was a global threat and needed a global response to be defeated.
There is a zero tolerance for Daesh in Pakistan. Not even a shadow of Daesh will be allowed in Pakistan, the DG ISPR said, adding that the Pakistani society has totally rejected it and there was no acceptance of the terror group in the country. He said that action is expected against any visibility of Daesh in Pakistan.
He said the whole world has recognised that Daesh was a threat but it was centred in the Middle East and has elements in Afghanistan. He said Daesh tried to raise its voice in Pakistan at a time when there was already a crackdown underway against terrorists and space for militants was squeezing.
People were already fed-up with terrorism and there was no acceptance for it in the society and they will be defeated in coming days, he added.
The DG ISPR gave details of the meetings between the Army chief and the top civilian and military leadership of the United States, including Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter and the top military leadership besides US lawmakers.
All meetings were very positive and discussions were held in a very cordial atmosphere, he said and added that the focus of the visit was on defence and military-to-military relations, but discussions were also held in the larger context, including economy and people-to-people contact.
There is a clear regard and respect for Pakistan and for Pakistan’s armed forces and progress will be visible in all areas of discussion, he said.To a question, the DG ISPR said that talks with the vice president which continued for about two hours covered Pakistan-US relations, regional security and issues of stability.
Responding to a question he said Pakistan’s clear perspective was presented during discussions with the US civilian and military leadership and the acceptance and understanding of Pak perspective was visible more than ever.
“The biggest thing is that your perspective is being recognised and there is also an understanding, and discussions were held based on that understanding.”
Discussions were also held with regard to India and the situation on the eastern border and LoC and the long-running Kashmir dispute, he said, adding that the US leadership has been told that the long-term security and stability in the region required long-term solution which is the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
On Afghanistan, the DG ISPR said that everyone supports the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led reconciliation process and recalled that the process had already begun with the Murree process but it was derailed.
“The process had taken off and had it continued there would have been much progress made by now,” he added.He said there was an identification of detractors and spoilers but all the serious stakeholders feel the urgency and seriousness of the matter.
He said there was a clear realisation that the Afghan reconciliation process could not be delayed further and there was a seriousness and urgency in moving forward this process. All stakeholders need to support this reconciliation process.
The said US leaders paid glowing tributes to Pakistan and the armed forces and there was a clear recognition and acknowledgement of the opportunities created both inside and outside Pakistan because of the Zarb-e-Azb military operation.
To a question, he said that after the initiation of operation in North Waziristan many terrorist elements fled to the another tribal region of Khyber which is an equally difficult terrain. He said the operations achieved successes in Khyber also.
He said many terrorists have taken shelter in a pocket, Shawal, a border region and which was now being cleared.
He said there were some difficulties as Pak-Afghan border is long and porous and coordination is being done with the Afghan leadership to seal this pocket and eliminate terrorists from that area.
Lt Gen Bajwa said no timeframe can be given at this time for the military operation but the objectives will be achieved as soon as possible.
He said in addition to Zarb-e-Azb there were some 12,000 intelligence-based operations in cities also against sleeper cells and abettors.
To a question on Pakistan’s support in fighting the Daesh terrorist group, the Army spokesman said that we are already cooperating in the fight against terrorism in the region in a larger framework.
He said best thing Pakistan could offer was the amount of experience and that the world was benefiting from Pakistan’s experience.He said that Pakistan has already played an important role in the global fight against terrorism and this will continue in the future.