Pak has done more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country: Gen Bajwa

Pakistan's powerful Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Tuesday that his country "has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country", in an apparent reference to the US which is fighting the Taliban militants since 2001 to restore peace in the war-torn nation.

Gen Bajwa's remarks came in the midst of a war of words between Pakistan and US after President Donald Trump berated Islamabad for lack of cooperation in the war on terror.

Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted General Bajwa's views about Afghanistan and the war on terror.

"Pakistan has successfully fought against terrorism while also contributing to regional peace. Pakistan has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country," Gen Bajwa said.

He said Pakistan has "paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that".

"We shall continue to contribute towards peace in Afghanistan," the army chief said, "but Pakistan's honour and Pakistan's security shall always stay premier".

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday reacted sharply to President Trump's remarks, saying that instead of making Pakistan a "scapegoat" for its failures in Afghanistan, the US should find out why the Taliban has emerged stronger than before.

Pakistan on Tuesday summoned US charge d'affaires Paul Jones to register a strong protest over Trump's "baseless allegations" on harbouring al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, saying it was a "closed chapter of history" and could seriously undermine bilateral ties.

Trump on Sunday defended his administration's decision to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to curb terrorism and criticised Islamabad for offering a hideout to slain al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad.

The US, which is fighting the Taliban militants since 2001 in Afghanistan, continues to seek an exit strategy from the troubled country and in recent months Washington has held direct talks with the Taliban representatives to end the 17 year long war.