Our rulers compromised country's interests: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif says Pakistan’s rulers made compromises for their own vested interests instead of protecting those of the country.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly today, he said the country was well aware of its enemy and would not serve the interests of any other country.

Asif said it was imperative to do some soul-searching instead of indulging in levelling accusation owing to the prevailing situation in the country.

In a written reply in the House, the minister said after a negative tweet of the US President, Pakistani leadership decided that Pakistan’s response would be measured.

He said that National Security Committee (NSC) in its meetings afterwards took stock of the entire situation.

Khawaja Asif said they made it clear to US officials that the unwarranted allegations by the US President belie the cooperative history of the relationship, which served mutual interests in the region.

The minister said despite the accusations, Pakistan remains committed to the stability of region and supports all efforts towards an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

He said people of Pakistan are prepared to defend their honor, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the homeland.

In a written reply to another question, Asif said that the situation on the Line of Control and Working Boundary was rapidly deteriorating since 2017.

He said heavy weapons, including mortars are frequently being used by the Indian Forces, on the civilian population on the Pakistani side of the LOC and the Working Boundary.

He said that since the beginning of this year, the Indian occupation forces carried out more than four hundred ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, resulting in the martyrdom of eighteen innocent Pakistani civilians.

He said this escalation at the LoC and Working Boundary was an attempt to divert the attention of the international community from Indian atrocities in IOK.

The minister said that Pakistan maintained the role of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) is crucial to ensure peace and tranquility at the LOC.

He said Pakistan has always extended full cooperation to the UNMOGIP.