Fawad Ch confirms presence of US troops in Pakistan

Fawad Chaudhry said that Pakistan wanted peace in neighboring Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday confirmed arrival of US troops in Pakistan and said that there are only 42 US troops in Pakistan at the moment who will leave at any time.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said that 10,302 US Marines came to Pakistan from Afghanistan on transit visas, while 9,032 troops from Nato had left for their respective countries.

Fawad Chaudhry said that Pakistan wanted peace in neighboring Afghanistan, adding that assistance in the evacuation process from borders and air routes will continue.

The information minister said that the whole world is applauding Pakistan’s role and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the only airline that transported medical supplies of World Health Organization (WHO) to Mazar-e-Sharif.

Regarding country’s political situation, Chaudhry said that the opposition has opened a front without even reading the electoral reforms, adding the attitude of the opposition is not serious. “If they had to unite with the devil in opposition to the government, they would do so,” he added.

He went on to say that the government is trying to sit together with the opposition on electoral reforms, adding that the government wants to make the election process fair and transparent.

The minister said the government is taking special measures to facilitate overseas Pakistanis. He said the cabinet was informed that 16,272 Pakistani citizens detained in various countries on trivial charges have been brought back to Pakistan as a result of strenuous efforts of the government.

Fawad Ch said Islamabad is also engaging Moscow for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, especially for the laying of gas pipeline from Russia to Pakistan. He said this project will open up new vistas of economic development for both the countries.

"The cabinet was informed that efforts are being made to bring Pakistan out of UK s red list," he said and added the cabinet also decided to administer anti-Covid vaccine to children aged 17 and above.

The information minister said: "The government is taking steps to provide maximum relief to the common people and the Prime Minister gave special instructions to bring down prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinder."

He said Pakistan is committed to extend every possible assistance and cooperation to the people of Afghanistan.

Earlier today, the United States has pulled all its troops out of Afghanistan, ending its longest war to cries of shame at home and celebratory gunfire from its victorious Taliban enemies in Kabul.

The last of the American troops overseeing a desperate evacuation effort flew out of Kabul airport on Monday night, completing a withdrawal that has raised deep questions about the United States’ status as a superpower.

Taliban fighters quickly swept into the airport and fired weapons into the sky in jubilation, celebrating an astonishing victory for the movement two decades after US forces invaded Afghanistan and toppled them from power.

However, the Taliban will inherit a devastated country despite the United States spending billions to rebuild it, with deep poverty, drought and Islamic State threats among the many challenges.

For the Afghan people, many are terrified of a repeat of the Taliban’s initial rule from 1996-2001, which was infamous for their treatment of girls and women, as well as a brutal justice system.

The withdrawal came just before the end of an August 31 deadline set by President Joe Biden to call time on America’s longest war -- one that ultimately claimed the lives of more than 2,400 US service members.

The early finish followed a threat from the regional offshoot of the Islamic State group, rivals of the Taliban, which was seeking to attack the US forces at the airport.

Thirteen US troops were among more than 100 people killed when an IS suicide bomber late last week attacked the perimeter of the airport, where desperate Afghans had massed in hope of getting on board an evacuation flight.

More than 123,000 people were evacuated from Kabul aboard the US-led airlift operation, which began just after the Taliban swept into the capital on August 14.