US destabilising South Asia: NSA Janjua

ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser (NSA) to Prime Minister, Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua on Monday said the United States is destabilising the region in order to combat China and Russia on security as well as economic fronts.

He said the world community needs to recognise Pakistan's sacrifices in the war against terrorism as the country suffered the most as compared to other nations. "Pakistan has suffered a lot in the war on terror both in terms of lives lost and damage to economy, but international community has not looked upon our sacrifices in this war with a positive attitude," Nasser complained.

Addressing a seminar on issues of national security here, Janjua was of the opinion that Pakistan had been successful in defeating the nefarious designs of the enemy and its proof is that the militants are laying down their arms in sensitive parts of the country in droves.

The seminar titled ‘National Security Policy, Vision for Pakistan’ was organised by the Center for Global & Strategic Studies. The event brought together international speakers, government representatives, retired armed forces officers, diplomats and students from across the country and individuals from public and private entities.

Janjua was of the view that Pakistan encountered the menace of terrorism only after it started supporting the operations of US-led forces in Afghanistan. "Pakistan has been battling with security problems for the past many years. Peace in Afghanistan remains our top priority," he said.

"The overall security situation in Karachi has improved considerably, while conditions in Balochistan are also moving in a positive direction. Not only are the people of Balochistan laying down their arms but they are chanting Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan as well," the former general said.

He regretted that India is given priority over Pakistan. Nasser also talked about Pakistan's relationship with India and how it had influenced the foreign policy of other nations in the sub-continent.

"India has been stockpiling a range of dangerous weapons, as it threatens Pakistan continuously of conventional warfare," Janjua briefed the seminar. The adviser said that Pakistan is in need of formulating a comprehensive response viz-a-viz security of the state, adding the current dimension of security milieus across the globe has witnessed a paradigm shift where threat to the cyber space has taken the center stage.

“Pakistan is in need to manage its national resources to combat its internal as well as external security threats,” he said and added that Pakistan started facing the hard times after the Soviet invasion and received a colossal blow after the 9/11 attacks and Pakistan’s decision to become a front line ally of the United States in war on terror.

He said Pakistan is blamed for instigating instability in Afghanistan, but it is pertinent to mention that Pakistan has never supported and provided safe heavens to terrorist organisations.