RAWALPINDI, 10 JUNE, (DNA) – Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General John Nicholson and US Special
Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Olson called on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif in Rawalpindi 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 on the US drone strike in Baluchistan as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, the army chief highlighted as to how it had impacted the mutual trust and respect and was counterproductive in consolidating the gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

General Raheel Sharif said all efforts for durable peace in the region have to be synergized with shared commitment and responsibility in order to make them successful.

He said 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.
Raising the demand of targeting TTP and Mullah Fazlullah in their bases in Afghanistan, the army chief reiterated Pakistan’s resolve not to allow hostile intelligence agencies’ efforts, especially RAW and NDS, of fomenting terrorism.

Chief of Army Staff reaffirmed the need for continuing harmonized efforts against terrorists and effective border management as ways to regional peace and stability. He said Pakistan is committed to work for a long term peace process for Afghanistan under the Quadrilateral Coordination Group framework. =DNA