ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that New Delhi does not leave any opportunity to destabilise Pakistan as the entire Indian media seems to be restless during the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to China.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, he said that 70,000 to 80,000 Pakistanis and personnel of armed forces rendered matchless sacrifices in war against terrorism. Paying rich tribute to the sacrifices of security forces, he said 20 terrorists were killed in 72 hours while nine soldiers embraced martyrdom in the attacks.

Regarding talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Mr Ahmad said doors for talks could not be closed, but those who took weapons against the state and armed forces should not be spared. “Our valiant forces are responding to the terrorists in a befitting manner,” he added.

The minister said the opposition was not interested in the long march rather they wanted to remain alive in news. They had earlier planned to resign from the assemblies and now wanted to start a long march, he said.

He said the current opposition was not in a position to bring a no-confidence motion against the government or the prime minister.

He said Maulana Fazlur Rehman was totally ignored in a recent meeting of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz.

The opposition parties were talking about chaos in the country even on Kashmir Solidarity Day (February 5), he added.

The minister said Pakistan has deep, cordial and brotherly relationship with Saudi Arabia and the Saudi interior minister would arrive in Pakistan on Monday on a daylong visit. Interior ministers of Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc., were also being invited to visit Pakistan, he added.

Mr Ahmad said the government was making all out efforts to bring Pakistani prisoners languishing in jails abroad. Pakistanis held in minor offences could be released. Pakistani prisoners have already been brought from Turkey due to the efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022