Washington/Islamabad, June 29: A day after Pakistan’s National Assembly passed a tit-for-tat resolution against the US House of Representatives, the country’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan urged Washington to provide Islamabad with small arms and modern equipment to ensure the success of ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’.
“Pakistan has launched an operation to eliminate terrorist networks, and for this, the country needs the latest small arms and communication tools”, Masood Khan informed American policymakers, scholars, experts, and corporate leaders in his address at a think tank in Washington Wilson Center.
The ambassador clarified that the operation includes three elements: ideological, societal, and operational.
He stated that work on the first two stages has already begun, and the third stage will be implemented soon.
Khan emphasized the need for Pakistan and the United States to maintain robust security ties, enhance intelligence cooperation, and resume the sale of modern military platforms.
He stated that “(this operation) it is essential to counter the growing tide of terrorism, which also poses a threat to the regional security interests of the US and its allies.”
Khan said that the bilateral ties of both countries is based on ground realities and that a few issues should not become an obstacle to the overall relationship.
“One or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage,” Khan said.
He also suggested that the US should consider Pakistan as a partner in its diplomatic efforts in Kabul and cooperate on counterterrorism and the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
“This is crucial for regional security and opposing the rising tide of terrorism that also threatens the interests of the US and its allies,” he said.
Notably, on Friday, the Pakistan National Assembly passed a resolution condemning the United States House of Representatives’ resolution which demanded an independent probe into the February 8 nationwide polls.
“An independent and sovereign country like Pakistan will not accept any Interference in its internal affairs and the subject resolution is an attempt to undermine the state,” it stated.
