ISLAMABAD, July 18: Pakistan on Wednesday took serious note of what it termed the “unsubstantiated assertions” made in the latest US National Intelligence Estimate report about the presence of Al Qaeda in the bordering areas of the country and called for concrete information to back such claims.
Challenging the basis of certain assertions made in the report, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said: “It does not help simply to make assertions about the presence or regeneration of Al Qaeda in bordering areas of Pakistan. What is needed is concrete and actionable information an intelligence sharing.”
“While acknowledging Pakistan’s important role in fighting terrorism, some unsubstantiated assertions have been made.”
Noting that Pakistan is determined not to allow Al Qaeda or any other terrorist entity to establish a safe haven on its territory, the spokesperson declared: “We would firmly act to eliminate any Al Qaeda hideout on the basis of specific intelligence or information.”
However, she made it clear that any counter-terrorism action inside Pakistan’s territory would be taken by the country’s own security forces.
“This is the basis of our cooperation. We have deployed troops, established check posts and done selective fencing. Any further action that needs to be taken against terrorist elements will be taken,” she added.
