News
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Afghanistan must check anti-Pak activities on its territory: Gilani* PM says Islamabad ready to help Afghan govt in reconciliation, reintegration
* More cooperation needed in intelligence sharing, defence, trade and other fieldsStaff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday urged Afghanistan to ensure that its territory is not used by any country to destabilise Balochistan, as he met visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.
Talking to Rassoul at the Prime Minister’s House, Gilani said both countries also needed to work closely to avoid misunderstandings over the water issue.
He expressed his satisfaction over the outcome of foreign minister-level meetings between Pakistan and Afghanistan and reaffirmed his government’s position of strict neutrality and non-interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
“Pakistan consistently supported the Afghan-led process of reconciliation and integration as its neighbour, sharing culture, values and traditions,” he said.
The PM assured the Afghan foreign minister of Pakistan’s support in the Afghan reconciliation and reintegration process.
The PM said both countries should strengthen cooperation in the fields of intelligence sharing, defence, trade, economic development, education and culture.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s offer of training the Afghan National Army, police and bureaucracy, saying Pakistan had doubled the number of scholarships for Afghan students in 2010.
The PM also reiterated Pakistan’s desire to build a road link from Chitral to Tajikistan and to import electricity from Tajikistan and sought the Afghan government’s assistance for implementing these projects.
Assurance: Speaking on the occasion, Zalmai Rassoul assured PM Gilani that the Afghan government would never allow any country to use its territory against Pakistan.
He also stressed that without Pakistan’s close cooperation, the Afghan government could not succeed in restoration of peace.
“Afghanistan needs Pakistan’s support in the implementation of its strategy of reconciliation and reintegration,” he said. He said that the Afghan government would finalise its water policy with close interaction and coordination with Pakistan to avoid any misunderstandings.
Meeting with president: Talking to Rassoul at the President’s House, Zardari said that a stable, prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan, as it firmly believed in the policy of neutrality and non-interference in the internal matters of Afghanistan.
“Pakistan has always supported the Afghan-led process of political reconciliation and efforts for the stability of the neighbouring country,” he said.
“Pakistan is ready to assist Afghanistan in all possible manners for the development of infrastructure and strengthening of its institutions,” he said.
The president appreciated the recently held Afghan peace jirga, terming it a positive move in the political reconciliation process.
He hoped that the efforts of the Afghan government would lead to the inclusion of reconcilable elements in the national mainstream.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk