Pakistan has done more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country: COAS Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday called upon the international community to acknowledge “the highest military, economic, political and social cost” paid by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

“We have paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that,” he said, adding, “We shall continue to contribute towards peace in Afghanistan but Pakistan’s honour and Pakistan’s security shall always stay premier.”

The army chief’s statement comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s tirade against Pakistan.

In a Twitter statement, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) further quoted Gen Bajwa as saying: “Pakistan has successfully fought against terrorism while also contributing to regional peace. Pakistan has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country.”

“Pakistan has successfully fought against terrorism while also contributing to regional peace. Pakistan has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country”, COAS. (1 of 2).

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 20, 2018

“We have paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that. We shall continue to contribute towards peace in Afghanistan but Pakistan’s honour and Pakistan’s security shall always stay premier” COAS. (2 of 2).

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 20, 2018

The COAS’ comments came in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pakistan’s role in fighting terrorism.

Trump’s comments over the last two days have been responded by Pakistan including Prime Minister Imran Khan, who on Monday hit back by saying on Twitter that few allies had sacrificed or helped the United States as much as Pakistan in its war on terror, suffering 75,000 casualties.

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Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua called in US Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad over what foreign office termed “the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan”.

“Conveying her Government’s disappointment on the recent tweets and comments by the US President, the US Chargé d’Affaires was told that such baseless rhetoric about Pakistan was totally unacceptable,” reads the statement issued by foreign office.

Tehmina Janua told the US diplomat that no other country has paid a heavier price than Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.