Latest world news

Pakistan rejects India’s “policeman” role in the region

Published

9 years ago

November 2, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ties with Washington were not cordial, says foreign minister Khwaja Asif

Pakistan’s foreign minister Khawaja Asif has, on Wednesday, announced that Islamabad has made clear to the US that it will not accept India as a “policeman” in the region. He has also conceded that relations between Islamabad and Washington were not cordial and in fact US administration was hiding its failures by blaming Pakistan on fight against terror.

According to The News International, Khwaja Asif was closing debate among the senators about US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent visit to Pakistan. He has expressed his displeasure on Trump administration’s policy tilt towards India. He said that Pakistan has made crystal clear to the US that its wish to appoint India as a ‘policeman’ in the region was in no way acceptable.

Asif was quite vocal in criticising US for hiding its failures. He said, “when the US holds Pakistan responsible, it, in fact, tries to brush its own defeat under the carpet”.

Pakistan’s top diplomat said, “We are engaged in talks with the US for bringing peace in Afghanistan. Relations between the two countries will be back on track if the US accepts our demands and any attempt to make us scapegoat to hide its own failure is not acceptable.”

He equivocally acknowledged US interference in Islamabad’s decision making during earlier governments. He said that protecting 100 percent interests of Pakistan would be the hallmark of the government policies and “there would be no element of tepidness, as was the case in the past.”

Asif said that Pakistan was ready to play its due role in restoration of peace in Afghanistan through the platform of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). During the debate senators criticised US President Donald Trump for his new South Asia policy.

Describing Islamabad’s response to US pressure for “doing more” against terrorists, Asif said, “We had told Tillerson that we will take action against militant outfits if we are given credible intelligence by the US as mere rhetoric of doing more is not going to work.”

Asif suggested US administration for not devising Afghanistan policy based on recommendations from retired military officials. He said, “If America frames its policy free from the influence of these retired military generals who were defeated in Afghanistan, it will be much more successful and effective. When they make Pakistan the scapegoat, they are in fact covering their own failures in Afghanistan.”

Asif assured the senators that their concerns will be given due consideration while devising foreign policy. He said, “At present, the foreign policy is discussed in the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting headed by the prime minister where both civil and military leaderships give their input and the days when foreign policy was used to be framed by a single individual are gone.”

Meanwhile, Dawn correspondent Anwar Iqbal reports from Washington that US has shared a list of 20 terrorist groups operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He claimed that unnamed diplomatic sources have rejected the suggestion as incorrect that Rex Tillerson handed over a list of 75 terrorists to Pakistani officials.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday that Pakistan was willing to target terrorists if provided specific information and Washington plans to give Islamabad an opportunity to do so.

The report further said that the list of 20 terrorist groups includes three types of groups: those indulged in attacks into Afghanistan, those who target attacks in Pakistan and the groups focussed on Kashmir.

The report further says, “Harakatul Mujahideen is a Pakistan-based militant group operating primarily in Kashmir. The US says that group had links to Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda as well.”

The daily also says, “Jaish-e-Mohammed operates mainly in Kashmir and the liberation of the Indian occupied Kashmir is its declared objective.”

The US has identified Lashkar-e-Taiba, founded by Hafiz Saeed in 1987, as one of the largest and most active terrorist organisations in South Asia. This group is also focussed on Kashmir and it was involved in the 2001 parliament attack in New Delhi and 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Earlier in September, BRICS leaders, at the end of their summit held in China, had named Pakistan based terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed among groups responsible for committing, organising or supporting terrorist acts.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:Afghanistan India Pakistan

Up Next

Huge ‘Monster’ Planet discovered that could challenge scientists’ explanation of how planets form

Don't Miss

Three killed in shooting inside Walmart store in Colorado, police hunt for suspects

Latest world news

S Jaishankar calls Pakistan a “serial practitioner of terrorism” at UN

S Jaishankar criticised Pakistan at the UN General Assembly, referring to a “serial practitioner of terrorism” and warning against attempts to normalise terrorism.

Published

8 hours ago

September 27, 2026

APNLive Desk

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Pakistan during his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying that a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had misrepresented facts and that arguments were being made to normalise terrorism.

Jaishankar’s remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly and spoke about the 2025 military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Jaishankar’s message to Pakistan

Referring to Pakistan without naming it directly in that remark, Jaishankar said a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had misrepresented facts before the UN General Assembly.

He said arguments were being made to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences, adding that such an approach would not stand.

Jaishankar reiterated India’s position that the country would exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism.

He also said that friendship and goodwill could not coexist with terrorism and that understandings based on such circumstances would naturally be called into question.

“It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” Jaishankar said.

India stresses zero tolerance on terrorism

Jaishankar described terrorism as a persistent threat to peace and called for governments involved in cross-border terrorism to be held accountable.

He also stressed that there should be no dilution in India’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and particularly called for greater attention to its financial aspects.

His remarks came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif referred to the 2025 India-Pakistan military confrontation during his UN General Assembly address.

Jaishankar backs two-state solution for Palestine

During his UN address, Jaishankar also spoke about the situation in West Asia and said India was prepared to contribute to efforts addressing food and energy security amid continuing tensions and violence.

On the Palestine issue, he reiterated India’s longstanding support for a two-state solution.

Jaishankar said India was also contributing humanitarian assistance and relief efforts for the Palestinian people.

He also warned about continuing threats and pressures around the world and stressed the need for greater stability, security and predictability.

Latest world news

Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.

Latest world news

Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

Published

4 days ago

September 23, 2026

APNLive Desk

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.