Washington blames Islamabad for its ‘failures’ in Afghanistan – NSA

Minister of Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, left, and National Security Advisor Lt. General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua attended the conference of international news agencies organized by Associated Press of Pakistan in Islamabad on Sunday. (Photo courtesy: NSA Office)

National Security Advisor Lt. General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua speaking at a conference of international news agencies organized by Associated Press of Pakistan in Islamabad on Sunday. (Photo courtesy: NSA Office)

• National Security Adviser (NSA) said Pakistan is sincere in bringing peace in neighboring Afghanistan and has provided all possible assistance to Kabul
• “Pakistan has paid a huge price in war against terrorism and sacrificed more than 60,000 lives to eradicate this scourge and bring peace in the country and the region,” the NSA said

ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser Lt. General (Retired) Nasser Khan Janjua said that Washington is blaming Islamabad over its own failures in Afghanistan.
He was speaking at a conference of international news agencies organized by Associated Press of Pakistan in Islamabad on Sunday.
“The US alleges that Pakistan is supporting Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network but contrary to this Taliban blame, Pakistan is helping the US,” the NSA said while addressing the conference.
The theme of the conference is “Pakistan’s Media: Opportunities and Challenges,” with special focus on news agencies.
Delegates from more than a dozen countries are attending the event and discussing current challenges faced by the media, especially news agencies, and evolving a new strategy to cope with them.
The NSA said Pakistan is sincere in bringing peace in the neighboring Afghanistan and has provided all possible assistance to Kabul in this regard.
“Pakistan has paid a huge price in war against terrorism and sacrificed more than 60,000 lives to eradicate this scourge and bring peace in the country and the region,” the NSA said.
Janjua said Pakistan believes in peaceful neighborhood but urged that Afghanistan should not allow its soil for activities against the immediate neighbors at the behest of others.
He added that Pakistan is a forerunner of peace but faces a perception issue in international media which “needs to be corrected.
“Various perceptions exist about Pakistan in the world. Some portray it as a poor Muslim country that is insecure due to threats of extremism and terrorism.” He added that some dubbed it as a “nuclear country at times where nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists.
“There are also allegations on us of playing a double game in Afghanistan,” the NSA added.
The NSA said these perceptions about Pakistan are not based on reality.
“Pakistan is a country of over 200 million people and holds rich culture and diversity, which needs to be highlighted in international media.”