Pakistan is against the use of proxies against any country: General Raheel Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif has said that his country was against the use of "proxies" against any country even as India raised the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism at the UN General Assembly.

Sharif, now on a visit to the UK, said this while addressing an interactive session at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London yesterday.

Military spokesman Lt. Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted that the army chief said Pakistan was committed to eliminate militancy.

"We are against use of proxies and won't allow it on our soil," he said.

Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday said that terrorism emanating from Pakistan is hampering normalisation of bilateral relations and "talks and terror cannot go together".

Swaraj also advised Pakistan to "give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk," while addressing the 193-member body.

Reiterating Pakistan's commitment to eliminate terrorism completely, General Sharif said that the success of the Zarb-i-Azb military operation against Taliban militants has made important impact on the security situation in Pakistan.

He said the operation would continue pursuing 'sleeper cells' across Pakistan, the Dawn newspaper reported.

"Our environment and context need to be understood," he said, adding, "We want to finish terrorists and their nurseries."

He called upon the international community to play its role for the regional peace.

"Terrorism is a global issue and warrants global response. The funding of all terrorist organisations has to be checked by all," he said.

The army chief also said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project would be a game-changer and usher in an era of prosperity in the region.

"We will do everything to make it a success," he said.

Earlier, speaking at a dinner hosted by Pakistan's High Commissioner Syed Ibne Abbas on Wednesday, he said Pakistan wanted good neighbourly relations with India "but with dignity and honour".