National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua said Friday that the perception that Pakistan is a dangerous country at the “centre of global terrorism” is far from the reality.
“The world thinks we are interfering in Afghanistan… [that] our economy is damaged… [that] we are playing a double-game regarding the Taliban… [that] Pakistan’s nuclear assets are not protected,” he said, adding that the true picture of Pakistan was not being presented adequately before the world.
In fact, “Pakistan is a beautiful country with countless honeymoon resorts”, he said.
Speaking about the appointment of former army chief Gen Raheel Sharif as the head of a Saudi military alliance, Janjua said Sharif is “not going to lead a Sunni alliance”.
Noting that Saudi Arabia had chosen the countries for the military alliance, Janjua said that Gen Sharif is nonetheless an equal friend of Iran and will not act against its interests.
It cannot be said when the Islamic military alliance will start functioning, he said.
The national security adviser said it is “unfortunate” that allegations had been hurled against Pakistan without ascertaining the facts.
“Did Pakistan form Al Qaeda and Daesh?” he asked, using the Arabic acronym for the militant Islamic State (IS).
Janjua also said Pakistan has fought for Afghanistan’s existence, adding: “We have been confronting difficulties [in this regard] for the past 40 years.”
He said Pakistan had never played a double-game regarding militants, and said the Pakistanis had been exploited by the Taliban in the name of jihad.
“[And] when Pakistan acted against the Taliban, they issued a fatwa condoning jihad against Pakistan,” he said.
