ISLAMABAD: During Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s recent trips to Russia and China, the two countries appreciated Islamabad’s efforts in working toward a peaceful settlement of the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.
“Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role for promoting peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Foreign Office spokesperson, said during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
Qureshi had visited Afghanistan, China, Iran, and Russia this week to “discuss recent developments concerning the Afghan peace process” and to strengthen bilateral relations with these countries.
Dr. Faisal added that Qureshi’s “very successful shuttle visit” to the four countries would help “generate a consensus among all the stakeholders to advance the peace process in Afghanistan”, adding that “India has no role to play in Afghanistan”.
He said that a consensus is developed at the international level to settle the 17-year-long Afghan conflict through negotiations with the Taliban. “Pakistan’s longstanding position to give peace a chance in Afghanistan is recognized everywhere,” he said.
He added that the recent developments for peace in Afghanistan, including the talks in Abu Dhabi which were attended by representatives of the US, Taliban, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have provided a “significant opportunity to also strengthen our bilateral relations with all these countries” and encouraged all to listen to various views on Afghan reconciliation.
Dr. Faisal said the visit had also helped “formulate a joint regional strategy for peace in Afghanistan and explore realistic possibilities of regional integration in terms of trade and economy”.
Pakistan arranged for crucial peace talks between the US and Afghanistan from December 17-19 in Abu Dhabi to find a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict.
Recounting other achievements on the foreign policy front, the spokesperson said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had made successful visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China, in recent months, to strengthen the bilateral relationship, and enhance trade and economic cooperation.
He said that Pakistan had also opened the visa-free Kartarpur Corridor in November this year to allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit a revered shrine there.
“We tried to resume talks with India …. Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote a letter to Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for resumption of the dialogue but, unfortunately, India stalled all our efforts,” he said.
Russia, China acknowledge Pakistan’s efforts in Afghan peace process – Foreign Office
Russia, China acknowledge Pakistan’s efforts in Afghan peace process – Foreign Office
- India has no role to play in initiative to end the war, spokesperson says
- Follows PM Khan’s successful visits to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to strengthen bilateral ties
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
