The Foreign Office Thursday dismissed the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's assertion regarding terrorists' "safe havens," saying Pakistan is determined to rid its soil of the scourge of terrorism in its own national interest.
"We do not agree to the comments and perception of Secretary Tillerson. Pakistan has undertaken large-scale operations against terrorists and their safe havens across the length and breadth of the country with notable success," Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal said in a tweet to respond Tillerson's comments.
The spokesperson further said these operations are being carried out in Pakistan's own national interest and Pakistan is determined to rid its soil of the scourge of terrorism and extremism. On Thursday, in year-end remarks to staff in Washington, Secretary Tillerson stated: "Over the last decade, the relationship (with Pakistan) has drifted, and we've got to bring this relationship back to one of common interests.
Today that's just not the case. And so we're engaged in very, very frank discussions with Pakistan over the concerns we have about their own stability and their own future and the threat they're under by allowing terrorist organizations to operate in their territory, and how we can work together to bring stability and peace to the whole region. And again, we've got a great team working in that region as well. A lot of work is left to do."