Pak Afghan Relations

[Ahmad Abdullah Ravian]

ISLAMABAD -
Without naming the US for blame game with Pakistan over cross-border infiltration to cover up its failure in war against terror, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jaweed Lodin Friday said that Kabul and Islamabad were struggling together for lasting peace in the region.
“Afghanistan has nothing to do with the blame game if it is going on among some other countries,” Lodin said in response to questions over militants’ cross-border attacks during a joint press conference with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir here after conclusion of third meeting of Pak-Afghan Joint Working Group on Peace and Reconciliation.
“We (Pakistan and Afghanistan) haven’t indulged in any blame game, especially for the last three years. We take terrorism as a common problem for the two countries,” he said, adding that both the neighbours had taken a lot of confidence building measures for sharing security, prosperity, opportunity and challenges. He said that both the countries had agreed to take joint and effective measures to fight terrorism for the safety and security of people of the both countries
The Afghan deputy foreign minister said the reconciliation process led by and owned by Afghan people and leadership would be the final solution to the problems and all those countries helping in this regard had to understand that they would have to following this Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process. About reports of direct links between the United States and Taliban leaders for reconciliation, the Afghan deputy foreign minister said, “All those helping us in this process will have to streamline efforts in line a single peace process led and owned by Afghan people and leadership.”

 

[Ahmad Abdullah Ravian]

About the outcome of the meeting, he said it was good and productive, as both sides had identified some concrete steps and proposals for the highest-level summit between President Karzai and Prime Minister Gilani in Kabul next month to review the progress of the Joint Peace Commission.
The Afghan deputy foreign minister said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan had to take the strategical affairs in their own hands and take the decisions according to the aspirations of the people of the region. “We also discussed various elements of reconciliation process,” he added.
He again reiterated the need for taking urgent measures to ensure peace and security in the region to take benefit from the potential available in the region and for the progress and prosperity of the people, adding that time was running out. “Pakistan’s support and cooperation is vital for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process,” Lodin added. He hoped that reconciliation process would make progress, as it was the political instrument to be decisive in resolving the conflict.
On the question of release of Pakistani children kidnapped by Taliban and kept in Afghanistan, he said, “Afghanistan has been making sincere efforts for safe release of these children and will do whatever is possible in this regard.” Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said that both the countries had discussed in detail the modalities and possibilities to take joint action against terrorism.
He said the representatives of the two countries discussed the regional situation and bilateral matters in a frank and open atmosphere.
Salman said despite challenges being faced by the two countries, they had shared history, geography and faith to take action against the extremist elements for the security and peace in the region. He said although there had been trilateral, and multilateral negotiations on Afghan issue, the most important and relevant process of engagement was bilateral and both the countries were engaged with each other under the Joint Peace Commission constituted by the leadership of two countries in this regard.
He said that both the countries that day reaffirmed their mutual desire and determination to continue coordination on behalf of their leaders for ensuring peace and security in the region.

 

[kawaraj]

Shameful Pakistan is absent in bidding Afganistan' mining projectS and oil wells. Where's our presence after these years fighting for a prosperous Afganistan?