QUETTA: Advisor to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz telephoned his Afghan counterpart on Thursday and conveyed his annoyance over a recent controversial interview with BBC saying he had been quoted out of context.

Aziz had told BBC Urdu that Pakistan was not going to target militant groups that do not “pose a threat to the state”.

The statement received harsh criticism by political rivals and on social media. The country's premier spy agency has long been accused of harbouring the “good” and “bad” Taliban narrative.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has already said that the statement was reported out of context. “The advisor made the statement in a historical context,” FO spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in a statement on Tuesday.

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During today’s telephonic conversation, Aziz told National Security Adviser of Afghanistan, Hanif Atmar that his remarks during the November 17 interview were misquoted, as he claimed that he was talking in a ‘historical context’.

The advisor reiterated on the occasion that Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism was clear and unambiguous and that Operation Zarb-i-Azb, as he stated in the interview also, was targeting all terrorists, without any distinction or discrimination.

Aziz also recalled the understanding reached between President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week that neither side would allow its territory to be used against the other.

The top Pakistani diplomat reaffirmed the country’s resolve to work closely with Afghanistan to address the common challenges and continue to make progress towards a comprehensive and enduring partnership, as envisioned by the leaders of the two countries.