A Foreign Country War Imposed On Pakistan: Minister

Islamabad, Jan 20, IRNA – A key Pakistani cabinet minister has said that a foreign war has been imposed on Pakistan, making the country unsafe place in the world. Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, held “wrong policies” of governments in the past decade responsible for pushing Pakistan to the current uncertain situation. Former military President Pervez Musharraf, who now faces high treason charges, had joined the US-led coalition after the 9/11 attacks and had offered some military bases to the American for military operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Musharraf had also sent troops to Pakistan’s tribal regions in 2003 for the first time in the country’s history who conducted operations against the Taliban groups. Pakistan has lost nearly 50,000 people including security personnel, since 2001, according to officials. Taliban are blamed for most of the attacks. The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had decided to initiate peace talks with the Taliban to end the bloodshed after it took over in June. However the talks have not yet started. The Interior Minister reminded the international community that after the vicious incident in New York in 2001, now most of the world is a safe place. “Despite the fact, that none of the alleged perpetrators originated from Pakistan, the country bore brunt of this war waged by foreign powers, “he added. He said the international community failed to understand the dire straits in which Pakistan was due to war in the region. Khan said the government will welcome and support political leaders, if they are willing to take lead role in talks with Taliban or want to use their good offices in support of government efforts. He said the government will hold talks with Taliban as mandated by the All Parties Conference (APC) few months ago and will also take the Parliament into confidence at some stage. “Those criticizing the government, which is in power for only six months, did not take any initiative to hold talks with Taliban or carry out an operation to end militancy over the past 13 years,” he told reporters in Islamabad. Earlier, speaking at passing out parade of police officers, the Minister said the police officers will be expected to go beyond their call of duty as the country is in a state of war. ˈIt is not an open and transparent war. It is war with an enemy which is playing hide and seek with the people and the law-enforcement agencies.ˈ/end