WASHINGTON - The military on Sunday called on the government in Kabul to implement “strict surveillance” along the Pak-Afghan border to prevent terrorists from “escaping”.
“We had pre-empted that terrorists could flee to Afghanistan to avoid operation Zarb-e-Azb,” said Maj-Gen Asim Bajwa, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General. He stressed that Pakistan has always extended full support for peace in Afghanistan, and will continue to do so “with utmost sincerity”.
Talking to newsmen in Washington ahead of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s arrival in the US, the ISPR chief said that the security situation on both sides of the border has improved due to operation Zarb-e-Azb.
With the situation in Afghanistan deteriorating, Pakistan’s top general will hold talks with key political and defence leaders on steps towards Afghan peace and regional stability as well as strengthening Pakistan-US defence cooperation.
Gen Raheel Sharif, who was due to arrive in Washington Sunday night, will hold talks with Secretary of State John Kerry and Defence Secretary Ashton.
The five-day visit comes weeks after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with US President Barack Obama at the Oval Office to discuss many of the same issues said to be on his army chief’s agenda, including Afghan peace talks.
“We have a wide-ranging agenda for the meetings,” Asim Bajwa told journalists.
Bajwa reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to support an Afghan-led reconciliation process. “Pakistan has always said the process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned – we sincerely supported efforts toward that end – and we will continue that support – I think there will be definitely more discussion on this – (progress on) this issue will help improve the regional security.”
To the East, he said, settling the Indian border issue is critical to South Asian peace and stability.
Gen Sharif will also meet with heads of key Senate and House of Representatives committee leaders on the Capitol Hill and other top Pentagon leaders including CENTCOM chief, as Pakistan and the United States look to augmenting cooperation amid changing regional situation.
Bajwa said army chief’s visit to the United States had been in the works since July and has been scheduled mutually by the two sides.
Answering a question, Gen Bajwa said Pakistan’s nuclear programme was a reality.
About the Zarbe-e-Azb operation, he said “it has led to a visible improvement in Pakistan’s security and also helped improve Afghan security across the border – we had informed the coalition and Afghan forces before the operation about the possibility of some militants crossing into Afghanistan so they should try to seal the border.”
At the end of his talks in the United States, Gen Sharif will pay a three-day visit to Brazil. He will also meet Pakistani peacekeeping troops in Ivory Coast.
Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: According to diplomatic sources, Gen Raheel would also discuss with American hosts Pak-India border tensions and India’s Pakistan destabilising efforts, resumption of stalled Afghan peace process as well as ISIS emerging threat to the region.
According to the sources, the general would meet Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday (Nov 19). Meeting at this level is rare for any military chief visiting the US.
Gen Sharif’s second visit to US in a year has drawn special interest because of the expectations being attached to a Pakistani role for restoring peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan had in July hosted the first round of peace talks between Afghan government and the Taliban, but the process faltered ahead of the second round planned for July 31 when it became public that Mullah Omar was no more alive.
The army chief would emphasise on the US to guarantee that any resumed effort would not be torpedoed from the elements within the Ghani administration, which is opposed to the process.
ROCKETS FIRED FROM AFGHANISTAN INTO PAKISTAN
Five rockets were fired by militants from Afghanistan which landed on Pakistani territory but there was no loss of any kind.
According to ISPR statement released in Rawalpindi, at 1430 hrs on Sunday five rockets were fired from Afghan side towards Pak-Afghan Gate at Angoor Adda, South Wazirastan Agency (SWA).
The rockets landed in near vicinity of Pak-Afghan Gate inside Pakistani territory. Pakistani security forces also fired in the direction from where the rockets were fired. However, no loss was reported in rockets attack.