Why target them who are not threat to us? Sirtag Aziz

[Jinnah]

اکستان کے وزیر اعظم کے مشیر برائے قومی سلامتی اور خارجہ امور سرتاج عزیز نے کہا ہے کہ پاکستان ان شدت پسندوں کو کیوں نشانہ بنائے جو پاکستان کی سلامتی کے لیے خطرہ نہیں ہیں۔
بی بی سی اردو سے بات کرتے ہوئے سرتاج عزیز کا کہنا تھا کہ ’جو امریکہ کے دشمن ہیں وہ خوامخواہ ہمارے دشمن ہو گئے؟‘

بری فوج کے سربراہ راحیل شریف کے امریکی دورے کے پس منظر میں دیےگئے انٹرویو میں قومی سلامتی اور خارجہ امور کے مشیر کا کہنا تھا کہ امریکہ اور پاکستان کے درمیان تعلقات بہتری کی طرف جا رہے ہیں۔

مشیر برائے قومی سلامتی اور خارجہ امور سرتاج عزیز نے حقانی نیٹ ورک کے حوالے سے کہا کہ ’جب امریکہ نے افغانستان پر حملہ کیا تو وہ تمام لوگ جن کو ہم نے ملکر مسلح کیا اور تربیت دی تھی، انھیں ہماری طرف دھکیل دیا گیا۔ ان میں سے کچھ ہمارے لیے خطرہ ہیں اور کچھ نہیں ہیں۔ تو ہم سب کو کیوں دشمن بنائیں؟‘

تاہم، امریکہ اس سلسلے میں پاکستان کے عزم پر سوالیہ نشان اٹھاتا رہا ہے جبکہ پاکستان کا موقف ہے کہ اس سال جون میں شروع ہوئے شمالی وزیرستان میں ہونے والے آپریشن ضربِ عضب کسی گروہ کے درمیان تفریق نہیں کر رہا۔
سرتاج عزیز کا مزید کہنا تھا کہ پاکستانی سرزمین سے امریکہ کے خلاف حملے کرنے والے شدت پسند گروہوں کی کارروائیاں روکنے کے لیے پاکستان نے بہت بڑا قدم اٹھایا ہے اور ان کی صلاحیت اور انفرا سٹرکچر کو ختم کر دیا ہے۔‘ جہاں تک ان تنظیموں اور گروہوں کی قیادت کی بات ہے، اس کے بارے میں سرتاج عزیز کا کہنا تھا کہ آپریشن سے قبل جو بھاگ گئے، وہ بھاگ گئے۔ ’جو رہ گئے ان سب کے خلاف کارروائی کی ہے۔‘

سرتاج عزیز نے کہا کہ ’افغان طالبان افغانستان کا مسئلہ ہیں اور حقانی نیٹ ورک انہی کا حصہ ہیں۔ افغان حکومت کا کام ہے کہ وہ ان سے مذاکرات کرے۔ ہم اپنی طرف سے افغان طالبان کو قائل کرنے کی کوشش کریں گے، لیکن جو نوے کی دہائی کے تعلقات تھے وہ اب نہیں ہیں۔‘

سرتاج عزیز کا خیال کے امریکہ اور پاکستان کے درمیان اعتماد کی کمی نہیں ہے۔ ’گذشتہ سال امریکی وزیرِ خارجہ جان کیری پاکستان آئے، پھر وزیرِ اعظم نواز شریف نے صدر براک اوباما سے امریکہ میں ملاقات کی اور پھر جنوری میں سٹرٹیجک ڈائیلاگ کو بحال کیا جو 2010 سے تعطل کا شکار تھا۔جنرل راحیل شریف کا دورہ اس حوالے سے اہم ہے کیونکہ عسکری قیادت کی اب تک اس سطح پر سرکاری ملاقاتیں نہیں ہوئی تھیں۔‘


سرتاج عزیز کا مزید کہنا تھا کہ افغان صدر اشرف غنی کے پہلے دورے کے موقع پر اصولی فیصلہ ہوگیا ہے کہ دہشت گردی کے لیے نہ پاکستان اپنی سرزمین استعمال ہونے دے گا اور نہ ہی افغانستان۔ انھوں نے کہا کہ افغانستان میں تحریکِ طالبان پاکستان کے سربراہ مولانا فضل اللہ کی موجودگی کے حوالے سے بھی بات چیت ہوئی تاہم، ’اس میں کتنا وقت لگتا ہے اور وہ کتنے کامیاب ہوتے ہیں، یہ دیکھا جائے گا۔‘

’انہیں کیوں نشانہ بنائیں جو ہمارے لیے خطرہ نہیں؟‘ - BBC Urdu


I couldn't find a link to English version

 

[VCheng]

Despite all the claims to the contrary, the false and dangerous distinction between groups of terrorists persists at the highest levels of the Pakistani security apparatus:

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj
Dawn.com
Updated about 3 hours ago


ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Monday said that Pakistan should not target militants who do not threaten the country’s security.

“Why should America’s enemies unnecessarily become our enemies,” Sartaj Aziz said during an interview with BBC Urdu.

"When the United States attacked Afghanistan, all those that were trained and armed were pushed towards us.

“Some of them were dangerous for us and some are not. Why must we make enemies out of them all?,” he said when speaking about the Haqqani Network.

He further said that the Afghan Taliban are Afghanistan’s problem and Haqqani Network is a part of it.

“It’s the job of the Afghan government to negotiate with them...We can try to convince them, however things are not the same as they were in the nineties,” Aziz said.

When speaking about COAS Raheel Sharif’s visit to the United States, the adviser to the PM said that relations between Pakistan and the US are improving.

 

[jaunty]

The ideology of good and bad terrorists is alive and kicking!

 

[jbond197]

Militants targeting Pakistan are non Muslims and the ones targeting its enemies are the true Muslim!! See I got the logic!!

 

[iPhone]

Despite all the claims to the contrary, the false and dangerous distinction between groups of terrorists persists at the highest levels of the Pakistani security apparatus:

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj
Dawn.com
Updated about 3 hours ago


ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Monday said that Pakistan should not target militants who do not threaten the country’s security.

“Why should America’s enemies unnecessarily become our enemies,” Sartaj Aziz said during an interview with BBC Urdu.

"When the United States attacked Afghanistan, all those that were trained and armed were pushed towards us.

“Some of them were dangerous for us and some are not. Why must we make enemies out of them all?,” he said when speaking about the Haqqani Network.

He further said that the Afghan Taliban are Afghanistan’s problem and Haqqani Network is a part of it.

“It’s the job of the Afghan government to negotiate with them...We can try to convince them, however things are not the same as they were in the nineties,” Aziz said.

When speaking about COAS Raheel Sharif’s visit to the United States, the adviser to the PM said that relations between Pakistan and the US are improving.

How come the English translation totally left out the part of his Urdu interview where he said Pakistan has targeted all talibs without any distinction in North Waziristan in operation Zarb e Azb. It's the fourth paragraph up there.

Sartaj Aziz is over 80 years old. That's tremendous amount of life experience. Whatever he says should be taken as pearls of wisdom. Furthermore, news outlet shouldn't omit anyone's quotes to their liking to suit their agenda.

 

[A.M.]

How come the English translation totally left out the part of his Urdu interview where he said Pakistan has targeted all talibs without any distinction in North Waziristan in operation Zarb e Azb. It's the fourth paragraph up there.

Sartaj Aziz is over 80 years old. That's tremendous amount of life experience. Whatever he says should be taken as pearls of wisdom. Furthermore, news outlet shouldn't omit anyone's quotes to their liking to suit their agenda.

He's 80 and needs to go in a long vacation. Can't believe we still have idiots in the government defending this good/bad taliban bullshit.

 

[surya kiran]

The ideology of good and bad terrorists is alive and kicking!

It always was. Which is why, I keep saying, negotiating with Pakistan on anything except trade is a waste of time. It makes sense talking strategic with them only and only after they have a demonstrated commitment to eliminate groups which threaten us. In the next 2 years, I foresee lot of trouble for us caused by the GoP by diverting militants towards us. And post that, I see major trouble brewed up in Balochistan by us. It is inevitable.

 

[Dash]

Although its Pak's internal matter, but I would have been happier if he had indicated that they shouldn't have faught others battle, but somehow I feel that priorities are getting mixed up here.

 

[SpArK]

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Monday said that Pakistan should not target militants who do not threaten the country’s security.
“Why should America’s enemies unnecessarily become our enemies,” Sartaj Aziz said during an interview with BBC Urdu.
"When the United States attacked Afghanistan, all those that were trained and armed were pushed towards us.
“Some of them were dangerous for us and some are not. Why must we make enemies out of them all?,” he said when speaking about the Haqqani Network.

Sartaj Aziz is right and spot on.

The non harmful militants inside country is just doing their job and earning for their family, if they have any.

 

[vsdave2302]

Despite all the claims to the contrary, the false and dangerous distinction between groups of terrorists persists at the highest levels of the Pakistani security apparatus:

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj
Dawn.com
Updated about 3 hours ago


ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Monday said that Pakistan should not target militants who do not threaten the country’s security.

“Why should America’s enemies unnecessarily become our enemies,” Sartaj Aziz said during an interview with BBC Urdu.

"When the United States attacked Afghanistan, all those that were trained and armed were pushed towards us.

“Some of them were dangerous for us and some are not. Why must we make enemies out of them all?,” he said when speaking about the Haqqani Network.

He further said that the Afghan Taliban are Afghanistan’s problem and Haqqani Network is a part of it.

“It’s the job of the Afghan government to negotiate with them...We can try to convince them, however things are not the same as they were in the nineties,” Aziz said.

When speaking about COAS Raheel Sharif’s visit to the United States, the adviser to the PM said that relations between Pakistan and the US are improving.

TTP was not a threat to Pakistan few years ago.

 

[Not Sure]

Thanks to @Syed.Ali.Haider for the English version

Despite all the claims to the contrary, the false and dangerous distinction between groups of terrorists persists at the highest levels of the Pakistani security apparatus:

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Militants not dangerous to Pakistan should not be targeted: Sartaj
“Some of them were dangerous for us and some are not. Why must we make enemies out of them all?,” he said when speaking about the Haqqani Network.

He further said that the Afghan Taliban are Afghanistan’s problem and Haqqani Network is a part of it.

“It’s the job of the Afghan government to negotiate with them...We can try to convince them, however things are not the same as they were in the nineties,” Aziz said.

Now how would Mr. Aziz know that it is merely a matter of time when the good terrorists turn their guns on Pakistan? It's not like he is some sort of Nation Adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister... or is he?

In 2009 I used to hear statements innumerably repeated on Pakistani media stating how the TTP were actually nice God fearing people, and not terrorists, who were ever-ready to attack India under the command of Pakistani Army. Those pious God fearing people, who were never an enemy of Pakistan, sent over 50,000 Pakistanis back to God.

Any wild guesses on what would be the score of these "harmless" Taliban?

 

[Jzaib]

fight against US enemies shouldnt be our concern., But we should not let them stay in our areas . If u want to hunt down US soldiers in Afghanistan . We wish u best of luck. but dont use our country as lunching pad

 

[Barakah]

fucking twat this guy is differentiating between good and bad militants lol. Thats like saying theres good and bad murderers

 

[Devil Soul]

Fighting militancy: Why should we antagonise all groups, asks Aziz
By News Desk
Published: November 18, 2014

A senior aide to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday appeared to turn on its head the conventional wisdom of indiscriminately targeting all shades of militants in the ongoing military operations in the tribal regions, arguing in favour of a more selective approach.

“Why should Pakistan target those who do not pose any threat to its security?” asked Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister’s adviser on national security and foreign affairs, in an interview with BBC Urdu. The interview coincided with a seven-day trip of army chief General Raheel Sharif to the United States.

“The enemies of [the United States of] America have become enemies of Pakistan for no reason,” Aziz said.

Asked about the Haqqani Network, Aziz said: “When the United States attacked Afghanistan [in 2001], all those groups who we had collectively armed and trained were pushed into Pakistan. Some of them are a threat to Pakistan, while others pose no threat to Pakistan’s security. Why should we antagonise them all?”

Pakistan has long been accused of harbouring the Haqqani Network which, according to US officials, used its sanctuaries in North Waziristan Agency as a springboard for launching attacks on foreign forces fighting a Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

Officially, Islamabad has said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb launched in North Waziristan in mid-June was targeting all shades of militants. Referring to the offensive, Aziz said Pakistan has taken a big step to stop militants from using its soil to attack US troops. “Their capability [to mount attacks] and their infrastructure has been decimated,” he added.

Asked about the leadership of these groups, the premier’s adviser conceded that some of them might have fled before the launch of Zarb-e-Azb. “However, indiscriminate action is being taken against those who are still on the ground,” he added.

Aziz said the Afghan Taliban were Kabul’s headache. And the Haqqani Network was a component of the Afghan Taliban. “Kabul should hold talks with them. Pakistan can facilitatein such a reconciliation process – but our ties are different from those of the 1990s,” he added.

About the recent visit of new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Aziz said the two sides agreed not allow their respective territories to be used by militants against each other. He added that the issue of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah Fazlullah, who has found a safe haven in Afghanistan, was also taken up with the Afghan leader.

Aziz also said that his country’s soured relations with the United States were on the mend. He didn’t agree with the interviewer that there was a trust deficit between the two countries though.

“Last year, US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Pakistan. Then Premier Nawaz Sharif met President Barack Obama in New York. Subsequently, the Strategic Dialogue was revived which was stalled since 2010,” he added. “Gen Raheel’s visit is important given that there had been no contact between the two militaries at this level.”

Five months after the start of Zarb-e-Azb, the military claims to have secured 90% of North Waziristan, killing nearly 1,200 militants in the process. Similarly, Operation Khyber-I is also ongoing in Tirah Valley and Bara regions of Khyber Agency.

Around 350 militants – including 20 top commanders – have surrendered to the security forces since the launch of Khyber-I in mid-October, according to the military. At least 10 militants laid down their weapons on Monday, the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. All these militants hail from Khyber Agency and they surrendered to the security forces, forfeiting a huge cache of arms and ammunitions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2014.

 

[Devil Soul]

The timing of these statements cant be ignored, COAS is on US visit...