Following the successful visit of the royal couple to Pakistan, a retired senior British Army Officer Jonathan Shaw has called the world to give due respect to Pakistan in his recent article for the acclaimed Spectator Magazine.
The former army officer acknowledged the progress the country had made to restore law and order and stability in the country under the military command of General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The visit of the Dutch and Duchess of Cambridge to Pakistan has proved to be momentous, succeeded in projecting a positive image of Pakistan worldwide.
Jonathan Shaw’s lauds Gen Bajwa
Jonathan Shaw wrote that the visit of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Pakistan is “showcasing Pakistan as it is today” rather than in the past and that the visit shows Pakistan has transformed its internal security situation.
Jonathan Shaw has recently visited various areas in Pakistan. He is the former head of the SAS, also the two-star in charge of Pakistan policy. Shaw is also an Oxford-educated general who frequently writes for Telegraph, Spectator and Financial Times.
This week's royal visit shows how much Pakistan has changed for the better. Well-informed piece by Jonathan Shaw in the Spectator: https://t.co/7ao7PECD00
— Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets) October 18, 2019
“When I used to go to Pakistan regularly over the period 2009-10, I saw a country facing an existential crisis. Pakistan harbours 2.7 million refugees from 1979 then 2001 invasions in Afghanistan,” wrote Jonathan Shaw. Adding that a real turning point came after a devastating APS Peshawar attack in 2014 by Tehreek-I-Taliban Pakistan in which nearly 158 people lost their lives.
He mentioned that the relentless actions against the terrorists yielded positive results for Pakistan.
“I visited the Khyber Pass section of the 833km fence, with 700 guard forts along its route, soon to be augmented by CCTV and sensor devices. This $1bn effort has choked off the Haqqani and TTP terrorist networks. And in a further sign of national CT resolve, all those on the US ‘watch-list’ in Pakistan have been arrested. Much credit for this must go to the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bajwa. He was picked as COAS over the heads of more senior officers on account of his strong pro-democracy attitudes.”
Read more: Pakistan flaunts improved security as William and Kate arrive
He also endorsed PM Khan’s decision to give a three-year extension to General Qamar Javed Bajwa for his pro-democracy outlook. Adding that General Qamar Javed Bajwa proved himself “an able interlocutor in trying to de-escalate tensions in Yemen, between KSA and Iran, and of course in Afghanistan.”
“His character and broad vision for the overall strength of Pakistan explains why PM Imran Khan has recently extended him for a second three-year term. And he is well-matched to his PM, who has shown strength and courage with his anti-corruption drive, his Peace and Prosperity agenda and his release of the Indian pilot shot down in the Pulwama incident in Kashmir this February,” added Jonathan Shaw.
https://twitter.com/WPCION/status/1185278381908205569?s=20
He urged the world to respect Pakistan for making significant progress towards stability and peace from a country in shambles, taken over by militancy and bloodshed. Adding that, “As what has become known as the ‘Bajwa doctrine’ has it, now is not the time to ask for more from Pakistan; now is the time for the world to give more respect to Pakistan.”
Member of British Parliament, Jonathan Lord Thursday said that the ongoing visit of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton would further, strengthen the bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Prince William’s Appreciation of Pak’s Efforts
Even Prince William had acknowledged the efforts of Pakistan armed forces in a fight against terrorism during his visit to the Army Canine Centre in Islamabad.
While talking to the reporters Prince William stressed the importance of the relations between two nations.
“A lot of effort, a lot of lives being lost by the Pakistanis in securing large parts of this country over the years and those sacrifices for the Pakistanis should be acknowledged,” he said.
“It’s been a huge, huge undertaking for them.
#PakArmyFightForPeace
Jonathan Shaw wrote that General Bajwa has focused on supporting the softer aspects of societal regrowth. General Bajwa told Jonathan Shaw for the Spectator article: “A strong army needs a sovereign economy.”— 𝙃𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙝 🇵🇰 (@hamshah18) October 19, 2019
“The fact that we’re here today and witnessing UK-Pakistani security working together shows you how important it is and that what happens here in Pakistan directly correlates to what happens in the streets of the UK.”
The duke continued: “I think it’s really important that everyone back home in the UK realises that we have a far-ranging, far-reaching projection of what we’re doing and we’re involved with the Pakistanis for a very good reason.
Read more: The Benefits of UK-Pakistani Military Cooperation
“It will keep people safe back in the UK. What happens in Pakistan directly correlates to what happens back in the UK” concluded Prince William.
The Dutch and Duchess of Cambridge returned to London on Friday following a five-day visit to Pakistan.