ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa has said that Pakistan is fighting terrorism in its own interest and not for US money or equipment.

Gen Bajwa told United States Ambassador David Hale, who called on him on Wednesday to explain his country’s new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia, that Pakistan “was not looking for any material or financial assistance from the US but trust, understanding and acknowledgement of our contributions”.

US President Donald Trump’s speech in which he unveiled the policy on Monday was seen here as demeaning and dismissive of Pakistan’s sacrifices as it accused the country of providing sanctuaries to terrorist groups. “We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting,” President Trump said.

The statement on the army chief’s meeting with the US envoy was the first official reaction from the military General Headquarters after the announcement of the US policy.

US seeking cooperation to resolve Afghan issue, says envoy

The army chief had conveyed the same message to the US government through Central Command chief Gen Joseph Votel, who visited Pakistan the day President Trump met his National Security Council to finalise the new policy.

The Foreign Office had in a late-night reaction on Tuesday rejected President Trump’s allegations about safe havens, saying the US should stop relying on “false narrative” and instead cooperate with Pakistan in fighting terrorism.

The government has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee on Thursday, where the top civil and military leaders will put their heads together for formulating a ‘comprehensive response’ to the US policy.

Gen Bajwa emphasised cooperation for reaching an amicable settlement of the long-running Afghan conflict, which is entering its 17th year.

“Collaboration and synergy of effort between all stakeholders is the key to success to bring this long drawn war in Afghanistan to its logical conclusion.”

He said peace in Afghanistan was as important for Pakistan as any other country.

“We have done a lot towards that end and shall keep on doing our best, not to appease anyone but in line with our national interest and national policy,” he said.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations statement, Ambassador Hale told Gen Bajwa that the “US values Pakistan’s role in the war against terror and is seeking cooperation from Pakistan to resolve the Afghan issue”.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif will travel to Washington in the coming days for a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

It would be the first high-level contact between the two countries after the announcement of the new policy.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2017