News
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Pakistan denies arrests thwarted Taliban talks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan rejected on Friday a suggestion from the former head of the UN mission in Afghanistan that the arrest of senior Afghan Taliban members in Pakistan may have halted talks with UN representatives.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said, “The fact of the matter is that Mullah Baradar’s arrest was a joint operation with the US and had nothing to do with talks or reconciliation.” He said that Pakistan had long called for talks to end the Afghan war, and Eide’s comments were a misinterpretation of its aims. “Pakistan is committed to support an Afghanistan-led reintegration and reconciliation process, so any other contentions, we believe, are a misrepresentation and misinterpretation of our intentions.” reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk