Sri Lanka Praised for Standing by Pakistan Amid Security Concerns
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi announced on Thursday that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has personally assured full security for the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team during its ongoing tour of Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters, Naqvi said the assurance was directly conveyed to Sri Lankan officials to address their safety concerns following recent security incidents. He shared that the Sri Lankan President had contacted him personally to discuss the matter, and both sides reviewed detailed security arrangements for the team’s protection.
The minister noted that the Sri Lankan authorities initially expressed reservations about continuing the tour, but Pakistan’s leadership — including the army chief and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — provided complete guarantees of safety.
Naqvi lauded Sri Lanka’s decision to proceed with the tour, describing it as an act of “courage and trust” in Pakistan’s security institutions. He also confirmed that investigators had traced links of recent terrorist activity in Islamabad back to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the Senate that Sri Lanka has assured Pakistan of its full support in the fight against terrorism. The Senate unanimously passed a resolution, presented by Tarar, paying tribute to the Sri Lankan government for its show of solidarity.
The resolution termed Colombo’s decision to continue the cricket tour as a “symbol of bravery and friendship” between the two nations.
Interior Minister Naqvi thanked the Upper House for its support, saying the gesture reflected the deep-rooted respect and partnership shared between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
