Pak did not create the Frankenstein of terror: Khar

Washington: The Frankenstein of terrorism in the Af-Pak region was not a Pakistani creation, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said, denying allegations that her country was not doing enough against terrorist groups that use tribal areas as safe havens to attack Americans and Indians across the border. [caption id=“attachment_98442” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Khar denied allegations that her country was not doing enough against terrorist groups that use tribal areas as safe havens to attack Americans and Indians across the border. Reuters”]  [/caption] She said it was “biased” to say Pakistan was not acting when actually it was the one at the forefront of the war against terror. “We strongly deny that. We feel that this is completely incorrect. That this is what could be called, you know, a biased statement. We feel that we are the ones who have reacted the most,” Khar told CNN. “We are the ones who have sacrificed the most. We are the ones who are fighting it on the ground, on a daily basis,” she said when asked about the continued safe havens inside Pakistan. “I would completely deny that,” Khar said when Zakaria pointed out that Pakistan has never fought against the Haqqani faction. She said the Frankenstein of terrorism in the region was not a Pakistani creation, rather it was jointly financed by world powers, which included the United States. “This Frankenstein was financed and assisted by many world powers, including that was the US. So, while we are left behind to sort out the mess as the fear of Pakistanis is and this might happen again, we must not forget the historical evidence that we have which has led us to the place that we have. Khar also hit out at the US, saying the war on terror was a joint effort between the US and Pakistan and even America had a number of things to do on its part. “Let me also very humbly say that it takes two to tango. There are many things that the US would have to do,” Khar said in response to a question. Allegations by America’s just retired military commander Admiral Mike Mullen about ISI’s links with the Haqqani network had kicked up a storm in Pakistan recently. Khar said the joint cooperation had only two weeks back  led to the capture of al Qaeda number three Al-Mauritani. “Within that the recrimination on Pakistan is something that we have serious reservations about,” she said. “This is my plea to you. Let’s not try and oversimplify a situation which is very, very complex. And let’s not try and alienate a populace. I’m not as concern about alienating the government of Pakistan, as foreign minister, my concern is you alienating the people of Pakistan,” she said. “You cannot afford to do that. It’s 180 million people whose lives have been harmed, risked, affected as we speak today. Please understand, please accept the fact that our lives are being damaged, changing every day. We have lost far too many people, far too many important people, far too many ordinary men, women, and children,” she argued. PTI