Islamabad not parting ways with Washington: Pak FO

Pakistan has said it is not parting ways with the United States despite differences in opinion arising after US President Donald Trump's revealed his strategy for Afghanistan.

Responding to a question, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakria said, "We have long-standing relationship with the US. We have worked with United States for a long time. Our areas of cooperation are diverse and multi-dimensional. I would not endorse your views about parting ways. In International Relations, there can be difference of opinion between two countries, for which there are established channels of communication through which misperceptions can be allayed and differences resolved."

Asserting that Pakistan remains committed to eradicating terrorism from its soil, he said Pakistan has taken action against all terrorists without discrimination.

He said that Pakistan has made enormous successes in fighting back the terrorists.

Mentioning the two aspects of US policy on Afghanistan, Zakaria said one is 'peace and stability' in Afghanistan, on which Pakistan's position is very clear.

"We have the highest stakes in peace within our neighbouring countries; anything that happens in Afghanistan will have a direct bearing on the security and economic prosperity of our country," he added.

Zakaria said Pakistan is sincerely pursuing and participating in all initiatives that are aimed at bringing lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Pakistan is ready to play its effective role in Afghanistan whenever required. We also believe that all initiatives in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned and Afghan-led. The other element of the policy is regional security.

He further said that the press releases issued after the Cabinet and NSC meetings state that in the over-all regional context, the conflicts in this region are inter-linked, and will have to be resolved for lasting regional peace.

Zakaria also accused India of playing the role of a spoiler and destabilizer in the region and using Afghan soil against Pakistan.

"Pakistan has provided the critical support to the US troops stationed in Afghanistan through its Ground lines of communication (GLOCs) and air-corridor which helped sustain the US mission in Afghanistan. In the past, the US leadership has acknowledged and thanked us for this enabling support to the US mission and it is our hope that the current leadership will also appreciate Pakistan's facilitating role in this regard," he said.

He also noted that Pakistan and its people paid a huge price in terms of loss of lives of over 70,000 citizens including over 6,000 soldiers and security personnel and over 100 billion dollars worth of economic losses.

Earlier, showing similar sentiments Pakistan's civil and military leadership on Thursday said scapegoating them will not help stabilise the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

In a clear ultimatum to Islamabad, Trump said Pakistan had to change its "double game" policy or face the consequences.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson then explained that Washington may revoke Pakistan's major non-NATO ally status as well as possibly cutting military aid and other assistance, if it continues to provide shelter to the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network.

Pakistan said claims of billions of dollars in aid to Islamabad by the U.S. were misleading as they were actually partial reimbursements for part of the cost of ground facilities and use of air corridors by the Washington for its operations in Afghanistan, rather than financial aid or assistance.

The statement came after a meeting of Pakistan's National Security Committee, presided over by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and attended by the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, and finance, the three services chiefs, and the head of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

The U.S. President singled out Pakistan for supporting what he called "agents of chaos".

He added, "We have been paying Pakistan billions of dollars and the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. No partnership can survive if a country is harbouring militants and terrorist to target U.S. service members and officials. It is time for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilization and peace.