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Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa of Pakistan highlighted Pakistan’s efforts in the war against terrorism and for regional peace, saying the country “has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country”.

The statement comes a day after US President Donald Trump’s continued tirade against Pakistan and its strong rebuttal by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“Pakistan has successfully fought against terrorism while also contributing to regional peace,” a tweeted by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor quoted the army chief as saying.

In an apparent reference to Trump’s remarks regarding alleged inaction on Pakistan’s part on the Afghanistan issue, Gen Bajwa said Pakistan has “paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that”.

“We shall continue to contribute towards peace in Afghanistan,” the army chief said, “but Pakistan’s honour and Pakistan’s security shall always stay premier”.

Prime Minister Khan had on Monday led the sharp reaction by political leaders to Trump’s rant against Pakistan by hinting at a review of foreign policy options and asking the US president to introspect on the real reasons for America’s failure in Afghanistan.

Trump, however, looked unwilling to end the row that began with his interview to Fox News on Sunday and followed Khan’s rejoinder with more tweets in which he repeated the allegations and insisted that the US was no more in a giving mood.