ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday said security forces were conducting operation in North Waziristan Agency against militants without discrimination.

Speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs the adviser presented the ‘Strategic Vision of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy’ and said: “There is no distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban and the military operation was being conducted across the board.”

Brushing aside some accusations that Pakistan was backing some Taliban groups, he said: “No non-state actor is being backed by the government.” He expressed the hope that lasting peace would be restored in the country at the end of the military operation.

The committee agreed that economic corridor to China alone would not strengthen the strategic partnership until “we also address the concerns about insurgents based in tribal areas planning attacks in the Chinese territory”.

Mr Aziz said the government would continue pursuing the foreign policy objectives, which include safeguarding Pakistan’s security.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2014