'US boots' on Pakistan's soil out of question: Army

Lahore [Pakistan], Oct 13 (ANI): Contradicting Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif of allowing US boots on the Pakistani soil, the Pak Army has categorically declined the proposal saying, "Whatever has to be done on its land is done by Pakistan itself."

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, had recently said in Washington, that Islamabad has offered the 'US in-sync' operations against the Haqqani network.

Asif gave this statement to clear the air that Trump administration should not suspect Pakistan's fight against terrorists.

"We have offered American authorities to visit Pakistan with evidence of Haqqani network's safe havens in the country. If they find any activity [of Haqqanis] in the targeted areas, our troops along with the US would destroy them once and for all," Asif had said.

The Pakistan army has declined the offer made by Asif of allowing US boots on the Pakistani soil for conducting joint military operations against the Haqqani network and said, "there was no concept of 'joint operations' with US on the Pakistani soil."

"Whatever has to be done by Pakistan on its land is done by Pakistan itself. Many countries could not face terrorism. Our forces have full capacity. We can never allow any foreign boot on our ground", the Express Tribune quoted Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor as saying.

"This has been our stance from day one that the Pak-US common objective of eliminating terrorism can only be achieved through intelligence-sharing and cooperation between the security forces of both the countries," the DG ISPR said.

Ghafoor has credited intelligence sharing of the US for the safe recovery of the kidnapped Canadian-American family in a "coordinated operation", clarifying the nature of the teamwork involved in ensuring their safe recovery.

US and Afghan officials have accused Pakistan of sheltering the Haqqani network - the deadliest of all the Afghan Taliban factions.

Ghafoor insisted that the world should realize that the security situation in Pakistan has changed. "The situation in Pakistan has changed as post Zarb-e-Azb, Radd-ul-Fasaad is also going on so we don't have any terrorist-organised sanctuaries anymore."

The DG ISPR said the government and security forces have maintained a clear stance in recent meetings with the US delegation led by Lisa Curtis, deputy assistant to the president and National Security Council senior director for South Asia.

"We have told the Americans that Pakistan has done enough and further cooperation and engagement will take our efforts towards endurance and stability."(ANI)