Bajwa defends Pak terror record
ISLAMABAD Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has hit back at those questioning the country’s credentials in the fight against terrorism, asking the world to “do more” and warning that the entire region would be destabilised if Pakistan’s counter-terror campaign fails.
In a speech delivered at the general headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday to mark Defence Day, Bajwa defended Pakistan’s gains against terrorism while dismissing allegations of double-crossing anyone.
“If Pakistan has not done enough against terrorism, then no country in the world has done enough,” Bajwa said, adding that the time had come for the world to “do more” to root out terror.
His remarks came days after the Xiamen declaration of the Brics grouping bracketed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. Pakistan is also facing pressure from US President Donald Trump to crack down on terrorist groups.
Bajwa said Pakistan had done more than any country in the fight against terrorism, yet “we are being accused of having a selective approach”.
He said if the world could not assist Pakistan in its campaign against terrorism, at least it should not cast aspersions. “Credit goes to Pakistan that with limited resources, it has achieved phenomenal success in the war against terrorism,” he said.