US drone strike is violation of Pakistan's sovereignty: COAS General Raheel Sharif

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – General John Nicholson, Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and Ambassador Richard Olson, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan called on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at General Headquarters on Friday. Regional security situation, with particular reference to border management and peace and stability in Afghanistan in the post 21 May US drone strike environment came under discussion. Expressing his serious concern over the US drone strike in Balochistan as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, the COAS highlighted as to how it had impacted the mutual trust and respect and was counterproductive in consolidating the gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. All efforts for durable peace in the region have to be synergized with shared commitment and responsibility in order to make them successful. The COAS said: “While Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched against terrorists of all hues and sanctuaries of terrorists have been dismantled without discrimination, all stakeholders need to understand Pakistan’s challenges with regard to porous border, inter-tribal linkages and decades-old presence of over three million refugees. Blaming Pakistan for instability in Afghanistan is unfortunate.” Raising the demand of targeting TTP and Mullah Fazlullah in their bases in Afghanistan, the COAS reiterated Pakistan’s resolve not to allow hostile intelligence agencies’ efforts, especially RAW and NDS, of fomenting terrorism. The COAS reaffirmed the need for continuing harmonized efforts against terrorists and effective border management as ways to regional peace and stability. He further said that Pakistan was committed to work for a long-term peace process for Afghanistan under the QCG framework.