“US contributed to decades of instability in Pakistan, region” Sartaj Aziz

The US created “holy warriors” in Pakistan’s tribal areas during the “Afghan jihad” and then

left them as soon as the war was over which contributed to decades of instability in the

country and the region, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said.

During a discussion on an adjournment motion in the Senate, moved by Senator Mushahid

Hussain, about US President Barack Obama ‘s recent remarks that instability will continue for

decades in Pakistan, Aziz said, “Pakistan’s answer to instability is the strengthening

democracy in the country.”

“The US created ‘holy warriors’ in our tribal areas during the ‘Afghan Jihad’ and then left

them as soon as the war was over, a factor which contributed to decades of instability in

Pakistan and the region,” Aziz was quoted as saying media from Pakistan.

Talking about “external threats” to the country’s stability, Aziz said that since 2013, Pakistan

has been pursuing a policy of non-interference and is not taking part in other nations’ wars.

“We have decided that we are not going to indulge in fighting other countries’ wars now, and

this policy is being pursued vigorously by the government,” he said.

“Pakistan has also taken a strong stance against terrorism. Operation Zarb-i-Azb in tribal

areas and the operation against criminals in Karachi have helped improve the internal security

situation of the country,” he added.

In his last State of the Union Address last week, Obama had warned, “Instability will

continue for decades in many parts of the world — in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and

Pakistan, in parts of Central America, Africa and Asia.”

Obama had also identified a link between militancy and instability and warned that some

unstable regions might become safe havens for terrorists. Aziz had rejected Obama’s assertion

the next day.