ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan said on Saturday that Pakistan had waged a war on terrorism in the supreme national interest and not to appease the West.

Speaking to Dawn on Saturday, the Foreign Office spokesman challenged the notion that Pakistan is fighting the war on terrorism on behalf of the West and to please the West.

Nothing could be further from the truth, he said emphatically when his response was sought on this common perception.

We have waged this war in our supreme national interest. The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan border must be free from terrorism. Development in these areas is a priority for Pakistan, Mr Khan added.

In reply to a question regarding Pakistan's role in war on terrorism, he maintained Pakistan had played a key and effective role under extremely difficult circumstances. Without going into details, he said: "We have demonstrated perseverance and produced results.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that virtually every Western leader who comes to Pakistan commends Pakistan's performance, but says it needs to do more, Mr Khan said: "We do not need any certificate of good performance. Genuine recognition, yes, because we have done so much."

In a message clearly directed to the international community, the Foreign Office spokesman said: "Saying do more hurts our sensibilities, because no country has done more than us in this war. We know that everybody, including ISAF, needs to do more."