News
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Pakistan supports Afghan reconciliation efforts: FM* Foreign minister says regional countries have special responsibility towards Afghanistan
KABUL: Pakistan on Tuesday extended its full support to Afghanistan’s efforts at reconciliation and called for making the reintegration process “broad-based, inclusive, Afghan-owned and Afghan-led”.
Addressing the International Conference on Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the process needed to be consistent with the war-torn country’s social and cultural milieu.
Qureshi pointed at the successful holding of the Afghan Consultative Peace Jirga last month and termed it a significant endeavour by Afghan President Hamid Karzai to evolve a domestic political consensus for stability and peace, based on harmony and reconciliation.
“Pakistan is ready to support the Afghan government’s efforts in this regard,” he added. Qureshi said the framework for “transition” of security responsibilities from NATO to the Afghans requires capacity building of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.
“We believe that ‘transition’ should be a gradual process based on ground realities and not on calendar and deadlines,” Qureshi added.
Responsibility: The FM also said regional countries, especially Afghanistan’s immediate neighbours, have a special responsibility towards it.
“They must pledge not to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. They must ensure that their territories are not used for destabilising activities against any country,” he added. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk