'Pakistan not isolated, national consensus on rooting out terror'

Washington, Oct 7: Challenging increasing gaining perception that Pakistan is "facing diplomatic isolation", Pakistan Prime Minister's envoys claimed today that Islamabad is committed to rooting out terrorism in all forms and shapes.

"Campaign against terrorism has to be comprehensive, clear and has to be all out," Mushahid Hussain, one of the two Special Kashmir Envoy of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told a Washington audience at an interaction organised by the Stimson's Center, a US think-tank.

"Pakistan has waged one of the most difficult and successful against inland terrorists inside the country," he said and acknowledged that "there are remnants" of terrorists inside the country and they would soon be taken care of.

"There is no two view about that. We are going against the largest war against terrorism inside the country. There is a certain consensus inside the country. We are against terrorism. We would go against remnants," he said in response to a question.

"We consider terrorism and extremism as the number one security threat in Pakistan. There is a consensus on this," Hussain said. However, he appeared to be in denial mode that Pakistan is increasingly facing international isolation as mentioned by moderator Michael Krepon from the Stimson Center.

"Right now, Pakistan is not isolated," he said asserting that countries like China, Russia, Iran, Turkey are with Pakistan, so does the Organisation of Islamic Countries and Human Rights Council. While Russia is holding its first ever joint military exercise with Pakistan, even NATO he said has supported the Pakistani stand.

Iranian Navy is anchored in the Karachi port, he noted. However, Shazra Mansab, another Special Envoy on Kashmir said that people of Pakistan are against militancy, against terrorism.

"We have this feeling that the huge sacrifices that Pakistan has not been recognised by the US and other countries. No other country in the world has taken so much step as we have done," she said.

"We are against militancy. But we do not fear isolation," Mansab said. The Pakistani leader suggested three issues for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the India-Pak issues.

"First, resume the back channel. Second have confidence building measures (CBMs) in Kashmir and finally give nod to Sharif for the SAARC summit in Pakistan. Let 2017 be the year of decision and year of peace," he said.

PTI