No terrorist safe havens in Pakistan: Minister

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Pakistan's foreign minister said Wednesday the country’s top leadership has made it clear to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that no terrorist safe havens exist in Pakistan and the U.S. assessment about Pakistan is wrong.

“Terrorist attacks are not planned or executed from Pakistani soil. There are no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan,” Khawaja Asif told local broadcaster Geo News.

Tillerson, who arrived in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Tuesday on his first day-long visit after his appointment as secretary of state, met Premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa before he left for India’s capital New Delhi as part of the next leg of his maiden visit to the Middle East and South Asia.

The visit was seen by Pakistani officials as an attempt to quell escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Islamabad following President Donald Trump’s new policy for South Asia announced on Aug. 21 which accused Pakistan of patronizing militants.

In a statement, the U.S. embassy in Islamabad said Tillerson reiterated Trump’s message that Pakistan must increase its efforts to eradicate militants and terrorists operating within the country.

Pakistan’s leadership rejected claims that the country was harboring terrorists.

"We have made it very clear to the U.S. delegation that their assessment about Pakistan is wrong and Pakistan is not responsible for an increase in drug trade or Taliban captured around half of Afghanistan’s territory," Asif said

"Pakistan is not responsible for all issues existing in Afghanistan. It’s the responsibility of the coalition forces to bring peace to the country where they are present," he added, questioning how explosive-laden trucks reached the heart of Kabul and blew up when coalition forces are there.