Sept 30 , 2015
News
Occupation of Afghan territory by any group unacceptable: Aizaz
Foreign secretary says solution not lie in blame game, rather it lies in cooperation
INPNEW YORK - Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry said on Wednesday that the occupation of a part of Afghanistan by any group was unacceptable to Pakistan.
“Afghanistan is being run by a democratically elected and legitimate government and occupation of its territory by any group is unacceptable,” the top diplomat told journalists at a news briefing while commenting on the capture of Afghan city of Kunduz by Taliban. “Pakistan believes that the solution to the Afghan issue lies in further cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he said. “We should avoid blame game and find means to a lasting solution between the two countries.”
He said Pakistan stands for Afghan reconciliation and a peacefully negotiated settlement of all issues. “The solution does not lie in blame game, rather it lies in cooperation,” the foreign secretary added. Pakistan, he said, continues to exercise restraint and would not respond to Abdullah’s statement in which he attempted to implicate Pakistan in Monday’s attack on the strategic Afghan city. Answering a question, he said Pakistan would not allow use of its territory for any activity against any country.
Replying to a question, he said the Pakistan delegation was in contact with the Afghan officials and there was no downward trend in Pak-Afghan ties. He said the United States and China also desired the reconciliation process to bear fruit, and communication with Afghanistan continued without any break. About the security of Pakistan Embassy in Kabul, the foreign secretary said he had received a report that it had improved, and hoped that there would be an end to the flow of hostile Afghan statements.
To a question about the arrest of some self-styled Islamic State (IS) terrorists belonging to Pakistan, the foreign secretary said terrorism in any form was not acceptable to Pakistan, and it would not like any of its citizens to have any links with any terrorist organisation. If any such connection is found, such people would be taken to task, he said. In his speech to the 193-member General Assembly following Monday’s attack on Kunduz, Chief Executive Abdullah called on Pakistan to keep its promise to crackdown on insurgents operating out of terror sanctuaries in the country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk