ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has asked America to supply concrete proofs
regarding presence of Haqqani network in tribal areas, so that both
countries could carry out joint operations against their common enemy.
In
an interview with BBC, while referring to conditioning mixed American
aid of U$ one billion with strict actions against terrorists outfits,
especially Haqqani group, the interior minister Rehman Malik stressed
that while Pakistani government would not like the idea of conditioning
aid, the Pakistani masses would be more outraged.
Rehman Malik
impressed the fact that Pakistan had been fighting war against
terrorism since long, sacrificing well over 35000 military and civilian
lives in the process, besides suffering colossal economic losses.
“ If despite, doing all this, we get nothing, it would not be a good thing”, he said.
Rehman Malik said that Pakistan did not seek aid, but rather wanted moral support, and accolades.
While
accepting the fact that there was a severe lack of mutual trust between
two countries, he stressed that such situation could be nevertheless be
sorted out through mutual consensus.
He also stressed on
NATO/Afghan forces to play their due part in dealing with terrorists
elements, safely ensconced on Afghan side of borders, and while
referring to American accusations regarding Haqqani network, said that
these accusations had been leveled against Pakistan since day one.
Rehman
Malik said that America had only hinted at vague presence of Haqqani
network, ‘somewhere definitely in South Wazirstan’, adding that only a
sure straightforward approach could work here.
He said that
Pakistani authorities were not against military operations in South
Wazirstan, but actions had already been carried out and many have been
rendered homeless.
The interior minister also cited earlier
installation of biometric system to monitor border crossings, but it
was difficult to monitor a daily cross-border human traffic of
40,000-50,000 persons.
Replying to another question about
action against Haqqani network, Rehman Malik said that any such
outrageous endeavor would flare up anti-American sentiments in
Pakistan.
“It is my deep desire that America should refrain
from such an action, and should care for Pakistan’s sovereignty and
popular sentiments’, he urged. Online
