- Title: Pakistan rejects U.S. accusations of harbouring terrorists
- Date: 23rd August 2017
- Summary: IQBAL TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER, AHSAN IQBAL, SAYING: "No country in the world has done more than Pakistan to end terrorism, nor committed so many sacrifices for it. Therefore, we reject any assertions that accuse Pakistan of harbouring terrorists, because we are the biggest victims of terrorism. Also, no other country in the world can claim to have achieved the successes that Pakistan has achieved in the war against terrorism in the past four years." IQBAL LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER, AHSAN IQBAL, SAYING: "Our commitment to end terrorism has nothing whatsoever to do with pleasing or annoying any other country. Pakistan is a peace-loving country, which wants to see peace in the world." SIGN READING (English): "NADRA SERVICE CENTRE. BLUE AREA ISLAMABAD." (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER, AHSAN IQBAL, SAYING: "We want a prosperous future for Pakistan. And for a prosperous future, we not only need peace on our borders, but also peace throughout our region. That is why we believe in joining our neighbours and playing our role in bringing peace to the region. This is the reason Pakistan has been cooperating with the international community in the war against terrorism, and it will continue to do so." PEOPLE AT REGISTRATION OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI INTERIOR MINISTER, AHSAN IQBAL, SAYING: "We believe that countries in this region have to come together to bring peace to Afghanistan, because terrorists are not the enemies of Pakistan or any other country only. They are the enemies of everyone. We cannot put an end to terrorism by pointing fingers at one another. In order to defeat terrorism, we need to forge unity, we need cooperation. And for this purpose, Pakistan will continue to play its role internationally, as well as locally." SECURITY OUTSIDE REGISTRATION OFFICE
- Embargoed: 6th September 2017 17:14
- Keywords: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal U.S. policy for Afghanistan Pakistan's war with terrorism Donald Trump
- Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- City: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0036VDPQO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday (August 23) rejected U.S. criticism of its efforts to fight terrorism, saying his country has done more than any other country in the world in the fight to end terrorism.
U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his policy for Afghanistan on Monday (August 21), stepping up the military campaign against Taliban insurgents and singling out Pakistan for harbouring them.
Iqbal said no other country in the world could claim to have achieved the successes that Pakistan had achieved in the war against terrorism in the past four years.
U.S. officials have warned that aid to Pakistan might be cut and Washington might downgrade nuclear-armed Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally, in order to pressure it to do more to help bring about an end to America's longest-running war.
The relationship between the two countries has endured periods of extreme strain during the past decade, especially after al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was found and killed by U.S. special forces in Pakistan in a 2011 raid. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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