LONDON, Oct 20 (APP)-In a robust defence of drive against extremists and militants in South Waziristan, Pakistan’s envoy to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan has said the country’s armed forces are committed to clean the areas infested by such elements and establish the writ of the government. The High Commissioner was participating in a discussion organised by Commonwealth Journalists Association on ‘Pakistan and challenges facing its survival at the House of Commons Monday evening.

Taking exception to the title of the discussion, he, nevertheless said, such challenges were not new to Pakistan ever since its creation and the country has time and again demonstrated the resilience and resolution to overcome those challenges.

He referred to the recent presentation of the Taliban phenomenon as a “mortal threat” to Pakistan and said the Pakistani nation has the capability and the political will to face up to those challenges.

The High Commissioner pointed out to the success of driving out the extremists and militants from the Swat and Malakand region and the rehabilitation of the displaced persons.

“That operation had the support of all political forces in the country. The Government also succeeded in making people understand that this was not America’s war fought on Pakistani soil but it was a war which posed a challenge to the Pakistani way of life.”

Hasan also said the operations in South Waziristan has the support of all political forces and the people.

“We have no doubt in our minds that we will succeed in our endeavours. While we appreciate the support of the international community on Pakistan’s endeavours in defeating obscurantist forces in the country, we would like our friends, specially the media to change their perceptions about Pakistan’s lack of resolve in tackling these challenges,” he said.

Noting lacking of proper equipment and the state of art weapons, the High Commissioner said the performance of the armed forces has been highly commendable in the campaign against the terrorists and extremists when compared with NATO and ISAF who have been in Afghanistan for the past eight years and still grappling with the situation.

The other panellists included author and political analyst Farzana Sheikh, security analyst Ikram Sehgal, MP Patrick Mercer and journalist Aamir Ghauri.

They held differing views on the issues and problems facing Pakistan and called for bringing the Tribal areas into the main stream of country’s national life and its political system.

Ms.Farzana highlighted the importance of  developing consensus among the political parties saying that there is still a climate of mistrust between PPP and PML-N.

Ikram Sehgal noted that the days of Taliban in Pakistan are numbered as the Army has mounted decisive action against them in South Waziristan. He said Pakistan has a bright future and with democracy restored, the challenges will be gradually overcome.

The Conservative Party MP who is also the Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Counter-Terrorism, praised the performance of Pakistan Army in Swat operation and said it has done a good job. Mercer said he was optimistic about the future of Pakistan.

Sehgal said the menace posed by the religious extremists will have to be fought collectively and they cannot be allowed to destroy civil society. He called for developing the Tribal areas and spreading literacy.

Former BBC correspondent in Pakistan Owen Bennet-Jones acted as the moderator.