Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said on Saturday that Pakistan is resolute in its commitment to fight against terrorism and its consistent actions against terrorists over last several years clearly reflect that it has done more than any other country in combating the menace in the region.
He called for concerted efforts to address challenges of extremism and terrorism in the long-term perspective.
The chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said in media interactions that Pakistan would never allow any terrorist to operate from its soil. He said the country has contributed significantly to making the world a safer place by capturing and eliminating hundreds of Taliban and al Qaeda operatives in the last five years.
He referred to the country's recent successes in counter terrorism and said the second highest ranking Taliban leader was killed in December last year due to Pakistan's intelligence cooperation, a fact recognised by General David Richards, commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan, he said, eliminated two of al Qaeda's top bomb makers last year and also helped foil the London plot, the biggest terror plot after 9/11.
Mushahid emphasised that no country has greater stake in stability, unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and added that no country has sacrificed more than Pakistan in the campaign against terrorism in the region.
He pointed out that Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism and President Pervez Musharraf has faced assassination attempts. He also reminded that the country has lost hundreds of soldiers in combating terrorists.
Rejecting the media allegations that the Taliban had backing in Pakistan, he stressed that country has absolutely no interest in promoting extremists. "We would have no motive, no interest, no incentive to promote a group whose vision and whose interest are at variance with our vision of Pakistan, which is to move forward as a progressive and democratic Islamic country," he stated.
Mushahid said the Taliban insurgency is taking place deep inside Afghanistan and referred to a recent UN report, which identified that the centre of current insurgency lies within that country.
Speaking in the broader perspective he said collective efforts and a comprehensive approach with a greater focus on economic development of people is necessary to address the problem of extremism in the long run.
He pointed out the need to address problems inside Afghanistan like lack of governance, poppy cultivation and corruption.
Regarding Pakistan's efforts to enforce security on its border with Afghanistan, he said the country has decided to close down Afghan refugee camps near the border as part of efforts to check any illegal crossings. It has already deployed 80,000 troops in the tribal region and established about 1,000 check posts to ensure security along the long and porous border.
On last year's peace agreement with the tribal elders in North Waziristan, he said it is an attempt to ensure that the people are not influenced by the Taliban and that there is no illegal cross-border activity.
"That is why the Taliban extremists are trying their utmost to sabotage this agreement," he said and added if this arrangement succeeds, extremist elements will be marginalised.
About Senator Hillary Clinton's proposal to appoint a high-level US presidential envoy to address Pakistan-Afghanistan problems, he said it merits serious attention.
Mushahid said Pakistan and the United States are close allies in the fight against terrorism. He said the US has expressed its commitment to help in establishment of reconstruction opportunity zones and added that these would bring economic opportunities to the people in the tribal areas.
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