Islamabad: In what is seen as an admission of reality, Pakistani establishment seem to understand now that Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed can pose a serious threat to the Pakistani society as “terrorism is not synonymous to any religion". In another significant remarks, dwelling on Pakistani armed forces’ performance, the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif "admitted that Pakistan made mistakes in the past" but continued to say that the country’s armed forces did a commendable job in the past three years, a local media report said.
“Terrorism is not synonymous to any religion. Terrorists aren’t Christians or Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus. They are terrorists, they are criminals,” Mr Khawaja Asif said at the Munich Security Conference in Lahore, according to a report in 'The Nation'. In a panel discussion on countering extremism and terrorism, the minister said more than ninety percent of individuals killed by terrorists are Muslims. According to the report, Mr Asif also strongly opposed the term ‘Islamic terrorism,’ and has said: “I have heard the term “Islamic terrorism” maybe a dozen times since morning,
President Trump uses it frequently and this is fueling Islamophobia because terrorism is being branded as Islamic terrorism.” Besides acknowledgement of the 'danger' the 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind poses to Pakistan, the Pakistan Defence Minister said that the fight against terrorism is a common fight for mankind and humanity. He also said, Pakistan expects and hopes that "its brothers across the border from Afghanistan will cooperate to counter this threat", the report said.
In a statement harshly criticising the United State’s policies, Asif further said Pakistan is determined to fight terrorism. “Let me assure the world community that Pakistan is a frontline state in this war and it will continue to fulfill its obligations to its own people and the international community but if the West’s policies are going to be isolationist it won’t help the fight against terrorism, only fuel it.” (UNI)
