Pakistan not playing double game in Afghanistan: Janjua

Says Taliban used against Pakistan in name of Jehad

ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt General (retd) Nasser Janjua said on Friday that Pakistan was not playing a double game in Afghanistan as Taliban were used against Pakistan in the name of Jehad. He said that extremism in Pakistan was an outcome of the Afghan war.

Dispelling the impression about Pakistan, while addressing leaders in the Islamabad Business Summit held here, he said it was wrong and baseless propaganda that Pakistani nukes could go into the hands of extremists. “Pakistan is a land of beauty and its inhabitants are talented,” he said.

He said it was a wrong perception that Pakistan was playing a double-game in Afghanistan.Had Pakistan been on the side of Taliban, then they would not be fighting against Pakistan. He pointed out that there existed 108 exit and entry points between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which were being used by the people of both the nations as land routes.

He said if Pakistan had not stood against the USSR, today Afghanistan would not have existed on the world map. He said the US was the sole power in the world and this was due to the countless sacrifices rendered by Pakistan.

Referring to the ‘Ferrari’ movement in Balochistan, he said that all this was the brainchild of those having nefarious motives. “This can be overcome by boosting economic activity in the province,” he said.

On the Islamic forces block, the NSA said that this was founded solely by Saudi Arabia and selection of countries into the fold was again the sole choice of the founder. “Our decision not to send our forces to Yemen was meant to maintain an equilibrium in the region,” he said.

He said if General (retd) Raheel Sharif was assuming as the head of the Islamic forces block, he would never represent any specific sect or sects. He has as good relationship with Iran as with Saudi Arabia.“He (Gen Raheel) enjoys cordial relationship with Iran. Pakistan will remain neutral and will not take the side of Saudi Arabia or Iran,” he added.