“In the last 10 days, our prime focus has remained on ways to expose Indian state actors’ involvement in Pakistan’s affairs. A [recently] modified policy paper is under consideration. [After the United Nations] we are now going to put this case before Washington,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a news briefingearlier yesterday.
“The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)’s involvement, its blatant interference in our affairs, Afghan peace process and Operation Zarb-e-Azb— all will come under discussion in the US,” said Nisar, who will be accompanying the prime minister on the Washington tour.
The prime minister is scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama at the White House to discuss multiple issues, including the stalled dialogue between Pakistan and India, Afghan peace process and other regional issues.
Asked about Pakistan’s joining the US-backed international alliance against the ultra-orthodox extremist group Islamic State (IS), Nisar said Pakistan would focus on local militants groups operating in the region. “A few banned groups could be in contact with IS, but the group is still largely based in the Middle East,” he added.
The interior minister also revealed that a team of the Federal Investigation Team (FIA) investigating the Asghar Khan case has recorded the statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. A review petition of the case is pending with the Supreme Court as the government has failed to implement the court’s verdict to charge military officials, who had allegedly funneled millions of rupees to anti-Pakistan People Party (PPP) politicians before the 1990 elections.
Nisar admitted that the FIA team was facing hurdles in recording statements of a few retired military officers. “However, the case will go on,” he said.
To a question in connection with a recent statement of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, he said that his ministry did not need the Ministry of Defence to coordinate with the armed forces and civil armed forces.
