Pakistan committed to combating terrorism, says Ahsan Iqbal

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that Pakistan was committed to eliminating 'any signs' of terrorism from the country.

Addressing a three-day International Counter-Terrorism Forum here, Iqbal said, "It is our national resolve to cleanse any sign of terrorism to achieve the objective of peace and development."

Iqbal underlined that the military forces had put in efforts and made sacrifices while flushing out terror outfits from Pakistan, adding that terrorists had targeted everyone in the country, Geo News reported.

"We carried out Zarb-e-Azb like operations from our own resources to flush out terror outfits. Terrorists have targeted all sections of Pakistan. Terrorists have attacked mosques, churches, temples and shrines," the interior minister asserted.

Iqbal added that around 60,000 lives were lost in the country during the war against terrorism, but it did not deter the nation's resolve of combating terrorism. He also called for peace and development of Pakistan.

Stressing on the decades-old conflict in Afghanistan, Iqbal said, "Afghanistan was left at the mercy of terrorist networks. Due to this, Pakistan is still suffering from the consequences of the Afghan war."

The interior minister further said that the war on terror was not over yet and collaborative efforts were being taken to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan.

Iqbal underscored that Pakistan was considered one of the most dangerous places in the world back several years ago, but according to world publications, the country was being declared as one of the most emerging economies in the world.