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Friday, March 29, 2013

Afghanistan ‘overreacted’ to a ‘small incident’: FO

* Pakistan rejects allegations of artillery shelling
* Ready to release more Afghan prisoners

By Farooq Awan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday criticised Afghanistan for ‘overreacting’ to a ‘small’ incident after Kabul called off a trip by 11 Afghan officers to take part in a military exercise in Quetta in protest against what they called cross-border artillery shelling by Pakistan’s army.
The Foreign Office rejected the allegations of any artillery shelling and maintained that Pakistan’s army only responded to an ‘intrusion from the Afghan side and that too in a very disciplined and responsible manner’.
While disapproving Afghan decision to cancel the visit, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary said such interactions help ‘build confidence between the two countries and contribute towards regional peace efforts’. He said both countries need to work together to promote peace not only in Afghanistan but also in the whole region. “Pakistan is following the policy of goodwill towards its neighbor and wants Afghanistan to reciprocate it,” he added.
Pakistan believed that the best way to clear misunderstandings between the two countries was keeping the communication channels open, the spokesman said. He said Pakistan’s government is serious in advancing the peace process and in facilitating reconciliation in Afghanistan. “A peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan is not only in Pakistan’s interest but the whole region’s.”
However, the Foreign Office expressed concerns over continued presence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens in Kunar and Nooristan areas of Afghanistan. “These elements are carrying out undesirable activities against Pakistan and we have taken up the matter several times with Afghanistan at all levels,” he said and hoped that the militant hideouts will be eliminated soon.
The spokesman said Pakistan is in favour of intra-Afghan dialogue and that was why it immediately agreed to providing a safe passage to Afghan Taliban at the behest of High Peace Council by releasing several prisoners from jails. He said both countries at a trilateral meeting in London had agreed to form a technical group to finalise the list for release of more Taliban prisoners from Pakistani jails. He said Islamabad has already released 26 Taliban prisoners on the request of the Afghan High Peace Council and was ready to release more prisoners if Kabul sent a request in this regard.
To a question about renewed interest by India to join Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, the spokesman said New Delhi had not formally approached Islamabad in this regard. “We will respond when they will approach us formally,” he said.
To a question about death of an Indian prisoner in Lahore, he said details have been sought from the Interior Ministry and the Punjab Home Department. He said a representative of the Indian High Commission was present during post-mortem of the prisoner.
Commenting on a statement by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about relations with Pakistan, the spokesman said Islamabad believes that healthy and constructive relationship is in the interest of people of both countries.
To a question about drone attacks, the spokesman said Pakistan also conveyed its point of view to the UN Special Rapporteur who is going to present his report to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly in October.
The spokesman said the Foreign Office will follow the Election Commission’s instructions in ensuring right to vote to the expatriate Pakistanis.
To a question, he said only European Union had approached for sending observers to Pakistan for the general election so far. However, all foreign observers will have to sign the code of conduct already issued by the Election Commission, he added.
The spokesman said Interior Ministry will issue security advisory for the foreign observers and that they will have to inform the ministry about their plans well in advance.
The spokesman clarified that Foreign Office had not yet received any official request from India to send their election observers to Pakistan.

 

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

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