ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa defended on Saturday the performance of the military and other law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism and also hit out at the international critics of Pakistani counterterrorism effort, saying others — not Pakistan — needed to do more against terrorism.

“COAS appreciated efforts of security forces, intelligence and other law enforcement agencies in foiling countless terrorist activities through ongoing Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said after a security meeting at the GHQ that continued late into the night.

The meeting was said to be held for taking stock of the situation after a string of attacks on Friday in Quetta, Parachinar and Karachi in which over 80 people lost their lives. The Quetta attack was claimed by militant Islamic State ground, whereas IS-affiliated Lashkar-i-Jhangvi accepted responsibility for the other two strikes.

Military says terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan are operating under the patronage of NDS, RAW

Following the attacks critics at home questioned the efficacy of the security operations with terrorists being able to carry out coordinated attacks.

Operation Raddul Fasaad was launched earlier in February after a series of terrorist attacks across the country for what was described as elimination of residual terrorist threat, consolidation of gains made during Operation Zarb-i-Azb and increasing security on the border with Afghanistan.

The security meeting linked the attacks in Quetta, Parachinar and Karachi to terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan that were being run by Afghan and Indian intelligence agencies. The ISPR said “manifest linkages” of hideouts patronised by RAW and NDS with the attacks exist.

“COAS expressed his resolve to eliminate the menace to ensure safety and security of Pakistan and its resilient people who are real strength of their brave security forces,” the statement said.

The army had soon after the attacks on Friday said the special intelligence-based operations had been launched to hunt the masterminds and planners behind the attacks and security and surveillance of the Pak-Afghan border had been enhanced.

The phrasing of the press statement on the security meeting showed that US reservations about the Pakistani efforts were also discussed and rejected.

“Unfortunately our sacrifices against terrorism are not well acknowledged and we are often subjected to demand of ‘Do More’. It was concluded that while counterterrorism efforts by Pakistan continue, it is time now for the other stakeholders particularly Afghanistan to ‘Do More’,” the ISPR said.

The statement came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Islamabad in an effort to defuse tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and urge them to cooperate for peace and stability in Afghanistan. Mr Wang is scheduled to meet Gen Bajwa on Sunday.

“COAS reiterated that we will continue our efforts to positively contribute towards regional peace and stability and shall not allow use of our territory against any other country,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2017