Pakistan needs recognition of its sacrifices, contributions, not US money

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor said Pakistan did not fight the war on terror for money and the country only needs acknowledgement of its sacrifices and contributions.

“Since 1947, giving Pakistan $50 billion or so, is not our price, as far as money is concerned. If America gave us assistance in the security domain, that is their national interest. Being a superpower, the US has defence cooperation with countries across the world,” said the DG ISPR.
“By making some payments over the years in the ongoing war on terror and then claiming that heavy payments are being made, we want to say that Pakistan is not fighting for money,” added the Army spokesman while speaking on Geo News show Capital Talk.
US President Donald Trump, in a new security policy issued on Monday, had insisted that Pakistan take a “decisive action against militant and terrorist groups operating from its soil”.
He added that lately the government and the army chief have also given statements over the issue.
“We need nothing from the US, but acknowledgements for our contributions, our sacrifices and our efforts for peace in the region,” stated the major general.
Referring to the start of the war, DG ISPR said, “We all know how the war on terror started and how it was imposed upon us and we have fought it as our war in the interest of our country.”
“We did whatever we had to in the interest of Pakistan and what we do in the future will also be in our interests,” said the Army spokesman.
He added that Afghanistan’s war will not be fought again on Pakistani soil and there have been plenty of discussions regarding measures which need to be taken on the Pak-Afghan border and coordination.
When asked if the US policy is giving an upper hand to India in the region, Ghafoor said the US, being a superpower, has its own interests in the region and relations with sovereign nations.
“But one line which has been clarified to them by Pakistan is that any policy which compromises Pakistan’s national interest will not be acceptable,” said the Army spokesman.
He further said that the US can give India any status it so chooses, but any role which gives India permission to work against Pakistan’s national interest will not be acceptable to the country.