Pakistan suffered Rs11,275 billion losses in terror war, Senate told

ISLAMABAD: The Senate was told on Thursday that Pakistan suffered the loss of Rs11,275 billion in the war on terror.

PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi said the US must stop crying for $17 billion which had been given to Pakistan, but it had no idea that the so-called war against terrorism cost Pakistan over $107 billion (Rs11,275 billion) losses.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi hinted at discussing the recommendations being finalised by the Senate on the national security in a joint sitting of parliament expected to be convened shortly to discuss US President Donald Trump’s threats to Pakistan.

Abbasi came to the Senate to give the promised in-camera briefing on Reko Diq controversy. He held out an assurance to the senators that the recommendations made in the House would be given due importance as it was a matter of national security.

On the occasion, Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani complained to the PM about the state-run TV for not broadcasting the proceedings of the Senate live when it was debating national security in the wake of Trump’s recent statement. The  prime minister assured the House that he would take strict action against the state-run TV for skipping the proceedings of the House as he had given clear orders that proceedings of both the houses should be broadcast live if an important issue was under debate.

Winding up the debate, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif shared the details of the National Security Committee meeting, chaired by Abbasi to take stock of the situation in the backdrop of Trump’s speech, alleging Pakistan was providing sanctuaries to terrorists. He said the committee rejected the allegations hurled by President Trump against Pakistan and that making Pakistan scapegoat would not bring stability to Afghanistan. The minister added that Pakistan did not allow its soil to be used against any other country and expected the same cooperation from other nations.  one hand the Afghan issues brought refugees, arms and drugs to Pakistan while on the other, terrorists safe havens were created in Afghanistan against Pakistan.

Asif brushed aside the billions of dollars aid given to Pakistan as misleading, saying to the extent that reimbursement of Pakistan since 2001 only account for part of the grant for ground facilities and air corridor used by US for its operations in Afghanistan rather than any aid or financial assistance.

“Pakistan’s effective counterterrorism operations have clearly proved that tide of terrorism can be reversed and we are willing to share experience with both US and Afghanistan. This would require working together and core issues of eliminating of safe havens inside Afghanistan, border management, return of refugees and reinvigorating the peace process for political settlement in Afghanistan,” he noted.

Earlier, taking part in the debate, the senators again came hard on President Trump for what they said ‘double standards’ with regard to Pakistan’s relentless sacrifices in war against terrorism: they said the US must know that no peace in Afghanistan was possible without the support of Pakistan.

JUI-F Senator Hafiz Hamdullah criticised the Islamic countries and alleged that heads of 51 countries offered prayers led by US President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia a few months back. “The leaders of 51 Islamic countries offered prayers behind Trump in Saudi Arabia…the prayers of peace,” he remarked sarcastically, which according to him was nothing but to endorse US policies in region, as the US wanted to destabilise the region through one way or another.

At this, Rabbani said, “If I’d made such kind of remarks like Hafiz Hamdullah, the clerics would not have wasted a single second to issue a fatwa (decree) against me”. The JUI-F senator said the US was using Afghanistan as a ‘bunker’ to protect its interests in the region under the pretext of restoring peace in region, adding that the need of the hour is that the government must start reviewing its foreign policy.

The PML-N Senator Salim Zia was, however, all praise for China and Russia for their support in the wake of Trump’s threats and emphasised the time had come Pakistan should divorce US and further strengthen its relations with China, Russia and other friendly countries.

However, independent Senator Mohsin Leghari diverted the senators’ attention towards former US President Henry Kissinger, who once said, “America has no permanent friends or enemies,” adding this was what Trump was doing, as he will give top priority to his country’s interests.

The PPP Senator Murtaza Wahab said Pakistan had to face all these accusations as it failed to project its sacrifices in the war against terrorism. “The need of the hour is to project our sacrifices,” he added. As per a commitment made earlier, the prime minister gave in-camera briefing to the Senate on Reko Diq project controversy.

By: Mumtaz Alvi

Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk