Pakistan Thursday dismissed allegations of maneuvering the Afghan peace process, saying it was facilitating talks between Taliban and the United States (US) in ‘good faith’ despite attempts by some regional actors to ruin the efforts.
“Pakistan on request of the US and Afghanistan and as shared responsibility is facilitating the talks, however some actors, having their interests served by perpetual conflict in Afghanistan, are active to scuttle the peace process,” Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Faisal said during a weekly press briefing here at the Foreign Office.
The Foreign Office also rejected allegations in a US threat assessment report that Islamabad provides safe havens to militant groups, warning that such ‘controversial statements will be counterproductive and have the potential to adversely affect the peace and stability of the region’. The spokesperson cautioned Washington against hurling allegations which could be ‘harmful’.
Dr Faisal also commented on the situation in Afghanistan, saying that matters between the Taliban and Kabul are ‘their business’. “We hope that they can sit together and resolve their issues,” he added.
The spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s concern about militant Islamic State group activities at the Pak-Afghan border. He defended Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to keep the Torkham border crossing open around the clock, explaining that the decision was meant to encourage trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “Pakistan is making the transport of imports to and exports from Afghanistan easier [by keeping the border open],” he said.
The Foreign Office also rejected India’s objections to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s phone call to All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan summoned India’s high commissioner on Wednesday, a day after Delhi had summoned Islamabad’s representative in India to lodge a protest over Qureshi’s telephone call to Mirwaiz. Qureshi had on Tuesday apprised the APHC leader of Pakistan’s efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue at all international forums and to expose brutalities committed by Indian security forces in the occupied territory.
Dr Faisal said Pakistan has rejected India’s objections to the telephone call and reaffirmed its support for the Kashmiri’s struggle for self-determination. He said Pakistan rejects Indian insinuations which equate the Kashmiri’s struggle for self-determination to terrorism. “Kashmir is a disputed territory. The Indian government’s move to summon the Pakistani high commissioner is an attempt to influence the upcoming elections,” the spokesperson said, adding, “If you wish to contest your elections, don’t involve us in them.”
The FO spokesperson explained that Pakistani leadership has always communicated with the Kashmiri leadership and that Qureshi’s phone call was not anything new. It added that Pakistan is committed to extending political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris and would maintain support and solidarity with them until the dispute is resolved in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Published in Daily Times, February 1st 2019.
