Pakistan does not look for any material or financial assistance from the US, but for trust, acknowledgment and recognition of its role in fight against terrorism, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa told US Ambassador David Hale on Wednesday. US Ambassador to Pakistan, David Hale called on CoAS General Bajwa at GHQ where he briefed General Bajwa about the new South Asia policy of the US announced by President Donald Trump a day earlier, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Responding to the statement, the Army Chief said, "We are not looking for any material or financial assistance from the US, but trust, understanding and [an] acknowledgement of our contributions." According to the ISPR statement, the CoAS highlighted the importance of peace in Afghanistan for Pakistan and spotlighted the efforts made by Pakistan in this regard. He said peace in Afghanistan is as important for Pakistan as for any other country.
The Army Chief added that Pakistan has done a lot in eradication of terrorism and will keep on doing this, and this has been done "not to appease anyone but in line with Pakistan's national interest and policy," the ISPR statement said. General Bajwa further said that collaboration among all stakeholders is the key to bringing the war in Afghanistan to its logical conclusion, the ISPR statement said.
Hale told the CoAS that the US values Pakistan's role in war against terror and seeks the country's co-operation in resolving the Afghan issue, the statement added. A day earlier, the ambassador had similarly briefed Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Washington's new policy and statements made by Trump regarding Pakistan. During the meeting, Asif had told the ambassador that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community to eliminate the menace of terrorism.