FO 'disappointed' with US report.

Islamabad -- The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday said it was 'disappointed' with Pakistan-related observations in the US State Department's Annual Country Report on Terrorism for 2019, calling them 'self-contradictory and selective' in characterising efforts to counter terrorism and terrorist financing.

In a statement, FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that while the report recognises that Al Qaeda has been seriously degraded in the region, it neglects to mention Pakistan's crucial role in decimating the group.

'Similarly, the report acknowledges the sharp decrease in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. However, it neglects to explain that this was only possible because Pakistan's resolute counter-terrorism operations have targeted proscribed groups and outfits without discrimination.'

The annual report - released on June 24 - looked at global counter-terrorism trends during the past year and reviewed progress made by the US and other countries in dealing with the threat.

In the section on Pakistan, the report stated that the country continued to serve as a 'safe haven for certain regionally focused terrorist groups' and allowed groups targeting Afghanistan and India to operate from its territory.

It alleged that Pakistan has yet to take decisive action against Indian and Afghanistan-focused militants, adding that no effort has been made to prosecute terrorist leaders such as Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar and Sajid Mir, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, 'both of whom are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state, despite government denials'.

In today's statement, Farooqui said that Pakistan was fully aware of its responsibilities as a sovereign state.

'We reject any insinuation about any safe haven. Pakistan will not allow any group or entity to use its territory against any country.

'On the contrary, it is Pakistan that faces the threat of terrorism from externally-based and foreign...