THIS refers to the news report ‘US calls for tough action against Haqqani network’ (Aug 31). As usual, the US wants Pakistan to do more; this time its veiled threat is on the Haqqani network.

The blunt statement by US National Security Adviser Susan Rice to Nawaz Sharif has unsettled the government and its Foreign Office.

Pakistan’s response was meek and its officials seemed unprepared.

The army chief is on record as having said that operation Zarb-i-Azb is directed against all terrorist and militant outfits, irrespective of their affiliation.

The Haqqani network stands dismantled and Pakistan would not support any terrorist outfit or allow its soil to be used against any other country.

Perhaps, Susan Rice is either ill-informed of the current situation in North Waziristan or she was speaking for the Indian leaders, and maybe even their supporters in Afghanistan.

Time has come to tell the world that Pakistan is a country which has suffered most from terrorism and militancy and has made enormous sacrifices to erase terrorism on its soil.

Nawaz Sharif has been invited by President Barack Obama for a meeting in Washington in October. Poor at diplomacy, slow in comprehending things, and bending under pressure, Mr Sharif, it is feared, will be submissive, compliant and acquiescent in the talks and would not be able to convincingly put Pakistan’s point of view across the table. This will be a greater diplomatic blunder than the one at Ufa, Russia.

Huma Arif

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2015

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