ISIS fighters occupied Tora Bora caves by pushing out Taliban

Lahore : The Veterans of Pakistan (VOP) on Sunday said issues linked with Panama Papers appear to have crossed the climax and ball is now in the court of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The media should now devote its attention to the other serious problems confronting Pakistan, it said.

This was observed in a meeting chaired by the acting president VOP, Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim. Vice Admiral Haroon (Retd), Brig Mian Mahmud (Retd), Former Ambassador Salim Gandapur, Brig Samson Sharaf (Retd), Brig Muhammad Riaz (Retd), Maj Maqsood (Retd), Capt.Dr Babur Zahiruddin (Retd), Maj Farouk Hamid Khan (Retd), Mr Nawaz Ali, Brig Masud ul Hassan (Retd) and others also participated.

They expressed deep concern over the US government and Congress continuing to make Pakistan a scapegoat to cover their failure in Afghanistan.

Allegations of Pakistan facilitating operations of the so-called Haqqani Network were termed totally baseless and without any solid evidence.

On the other hand, we expected US to support Pakistan’s efforts to build fence along the international border and they should have offered Pakistan, latest electronic equipment to make the barrier more effective, they said.

They noted that the American authorities need to explain about a recently published report in New York Times claiming that about 1,000 ISIS fighters have occupied Tora Bora caves by pushing out Taliban.

Being close to the international border, they pose a direct threat to Pakistan. This appears to have government’s approval as Hazrat Ali, a member of Afghan Parliament and a prominent warlord from the area who helped the Americans capture Tora Bora from Al Qaeda in 2001, is reported to have asked government forces to target them, but they did not pay attention.

There are also reports that ISIS fighters were dropped by unmarked helicopters. This has been stated by Zahir Qadir, another member of the Afghan parliament, whose tribesmen have been defending the caves complex. He has also stated that he was confident that the helicopters belonged to US Army.

Members expressed their great dismay that instead of recognizing our role in winning of the Cold War, we are being branded as villains. They supported general demand of the people of Pakistan that we must now develop closer relations with Russia and China.

Members also gave full support to the projects of CPEC which is to transform Pakistan’s economy therefore it should be completed well in time.

They demanded ban on Indian television programmes and films as our younger generation is being targeted by India’s cultural invasion.

Permission may only be allowed on reciprocal basis, for which a proper policy and formula was needed to be worked out.

On the other hand, there was need to launch more aggressive foreign policy to expose Indian atrocities in India held Jammu and Kashmir and RAW’s involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan.