COAS exhorts US to hit Fazlullah in Afghanistan

General John Nicholson, the Commander of the “Resolute Support” Mission in Afghanistan and Ambassador Richard Olson, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan called on General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at GHQ in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

According to ISPR, regional security situation, with particular reference to border management and peace and stability in Afghanistan in the post-21 May US drone strike environment came under discussion.

“Expressing his serious concern on the US drone strike in Balochistan as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, COAS highlighted as to how it had impacted the mutual trust and respect and was counterproductive in consolidating the gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb,” ISPR said.

All efforts for durable peace in the region have to be synergized with shared commitment and responsibility in order to make them successful.

COAS said that while Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched against terrorists of all hues and sanctuaries of terrorists have been dismantled without discrimination, all stakeholders need to understand Pakistan’s challenges with regard to porous border, inter-tribal linkages and decades-old presence of over 3 million refugees.
“Blaming Pakistan for instability in Afghanistan is unfortunate,” the COAS said, according to ISPR.

Raising the demand of targeting TTP and Mullah Fazlullah in their bases in Afghanistan, COAS reiterated Pakistan’s resolve not to allow hostile intelligence agencies’ efforts, especially RAW and NDS, of fomenting terrorism.

COAS reaffirmed the need for continuing harmonized efforts against terrorists and effective border management as ways to regional peace and stability.

He further said Pakistan is committed to work for a long term peace process for Afghanistan under the QCG framework