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Thursday, June 24, 2010
Pakistan can help broker Afghan peace talks: Hague
* British foreign secretary says Haqqani network probably irreconcilable and unlikely to give up al Qaeda ties
* UK wants long-term strategic partnership with PakistanBy Iqbal Choudhry
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has an important role to play in brokering talks between Afghan militant factions and President Hamid Karzai’s government, visiting British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday.
“We do want to work together on establishing security, peace and stability in Afghanistan. We recognise Pakistan’s particular interest in that, and we look to work together for an Afghan-led process of reconciliation,” Hague said while briefing reporters at the British High Commission. Hague also said London agreed with Washington that the Haqqani network was probably irreconcilable with the Afghan government and unlikely to give up its al Qaeda ties.
Earlier, the British foreign secretary, who is in Pakistan on a three-day official visit, addressed a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office.
He said that the new British government viewed Pakistan as a long-term strategic partner and desires deeper and stronger bilateral ties in all areas. Hague said the British government would increase development assistance to Pakistan to £665 million over the next four years.
He also paid rich tribute to the sacrifices and the resilience shown by the Pakistani people in the fight against terrorism. “I salute the efforts of Pakistan in fighting extremism and terrorism,” he said.
Iran-Pak Gas project: Regarding the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, the British foreign secretary said Britain would not interfere in any sovereign decisions of Pakistan. He, however, said that his country supported the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iran. To a question about whether Britain’s ties with India would have any impact on its relations with Pakistan, Hague said Britain had relations with many countries and they did not impact ties with others.
“However, Britain would not like to lecture either India or Pakistan over how to resolve their contentious issues, as both countries have the ability to resolve it on their own,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Qureshi said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had explained his position over the Pak-Iran gas project, which clearly stated that Pakistan was a responsible country and was aware of its international obligations.
He said Pakistan needed energy for power generation and was working on a multi-pronged strategy to address the shortfall, with the assistance of Friends of Democratic Pakistan, the European Union and China.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk