No one invested more in war on terror than Pakistan: foreign minister

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: No one has invested more in the war against terrorism than Pakistan, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday, in his first response to President Donald Trump's new US policy on South Asia and Afghanistan. 

Trump cleared the way for the deployment of thousands more US troops to Afghanistan Monday, backtracking from his promise to rapidly end America's longest war, while pillorying ally Pakistan for offering safe haven to "agents of chaos."

In an exclusive conversation on Geo News' show Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Sath, Foreign Minister said Trump has failed to acknowledge Pakistan's sacrifices. 

"Our contributions and sacrifices as an ally have not been acknowledged as they deserved to have been acknowledged," the foreign minister said.

Asif further said that Pakistan's contributions have been disregarded and disrespected by the US president, while the role of India was hailed, which is involved in state-sponsored terrorism. 

"We held a cabinet meeting today and the contents of the speech were discussed," said Asif.  

"We have decided to give an interim response. A comprehensive response will come after a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Thursday," he said

The National Security Committee (NSC) meeting is scheduled to take place at 11am on Thursday.

The foreign minister said the issue will also be included in the agenda of the federal cabinet.

The threat of Taliban in Afghanistan is on the rise, Asif said. "We are willing to send Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan." 

"Our commitment towards war against terrorism is unmatched. We have more experience in eliminating terrorism than any other country," he claimed. 

The foreign minister, while praising the role of the armed forces said, "Pakistan's Army contributions in the battle against terrorists are unparalleled."

"We have fought the war using our own resources. We have sent the Afghan refugees back with our own money."

Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan's commitment to fight against terrorism is for its own sake to emerge as an economic power in the region.

"There is neither any tolerance nor any safe haven for any terrorist in Pakistan. Pakistan has paid the highest price for (fighting) terrorism. So, we are fighting terrorism not for any country's stake but for our own future and for our country's sake," the Interior Minister said, adding that the Pakistani government would be issuing a statement in response to US President Donald Trump’s realignment policy.

China defends ally Pakistan

China defended its ally Pakistan on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump said the United States could no longer be silent about Pakistan's "safe havens" for militants and warned it had much to lose by continuing to "harbour terrorists".

Asked about Trump's speech, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Pakistan was on the front line in the struggle against terrorism and had made "great sacrifices" and "important contributions" in the fight.

"We believe that the international community should fully recognise Pakistan´s anti-terrorism," she told a daily news briefing.

"We are happy to see Pakistan and the United States carry out anti-terror cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, and work together for security and stability in the region and world."

China and Pakistan consider each other "all-weather friends" and have close diplomatic, economic and security ties. 

"We hope the relevant US policies can help promote the security, stability and development of Afghanistan and the region," Hua said.