Rawalpindi - February 1, 2010: Pakistan has suffered the maximum in terms of human and economic losses due to terrorism and violent extremism, but it has not dented the resolve of the nation and its armed forces to fight and finish the terrorism in accordance with own national interests. This was stated by COAS, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, while talking to a group of foreign correspondents on his return from Brussels, where he had gone to attend the conference of NATO commanders on a special invitation.
COAS said that he has conveyed the concerns, challenges, contributions and constraints of Pakistan in its fight against the terrorists. He said that he had high lighted the key issues of the conflict that needed to be fully understood and addressed. He drew the attention of the forum towards the huge sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its armed forces, due to the effect of Blow Back.
While referring to Afghanistan, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that our objective is to have peaceful, stable and friendly Afghanistan. We cannot wish for Afghanistan anything that we dont wish for Pakistan. He reaffirmed that geography, culture and history can neither be separated nor wished away. He emphasized that our operations in 2009 have helped improving situation in Afghanistan in terms of squeezing of spaces, better control of areas and continuous logistic flow.
COAS identified five fundamentals that helped in turning the tide and must not be lost sight for future operations. These are: public opinion, media support, armys capability and resolve, our war was not US war and a comprehensive strategy based on four different phases namely clear, hold, build and transfer. For the way forward, he said that, the fundamentals should remain strong and intact, short and long term interests be reconciled, strategic direction should be maintained and coordination be effect based.
He informed the NATO commanders that our strategic paradigm needs to be fully realized. He said we are the second largest Muslim nation in the World located in a strategic region defined by competing interests and civilizational cross roads, with a prolonged history of conflict. We have 3 million Afghan refugees. At present, our operations are in a transitory phase (from hold to build), we must consolidate our gains and fully stabilize the areas secured, lest it falls back to terrorists. Constraints of capability to absorb and operate, limited cutting edge counter intelligence / counter terrorism capability and limited budgetary space should be factored in.
In his concluding remarks, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that Pakistan has contributed to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan. We have the will and resolve to overcome the menace of terrorism in our country and we have the public support. We have also offered to train ANA and ANP, as we have the capacity and wherewithal to do so. He reiterated that Pakistan should be trusted and enabled.
The briefing was followed by an interactive Q and A session.
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