The Foreign Office on Thursday maintained that India has no role to play in Afghanistan. Addressing a weekly media briefing here, Spokesman Dr Faisal said that intra-Afghan dialogue is essential for seeking a durable solution to the conflict. He said Pakistan has facilitated the dialogue between the United States and Afghan Taliban for peace in the war-torn country. United States special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is in Islamabad to hold talks with the Pakistani officials regarding peace efforts in Afghanistan, he said.
On Indian atrocities in Held Kashmir, the spokesman said the Indian troops were targeting unarmed civilians in the valley. “Indian forces want to divert attention from Kashmir by engaging in firing on the Working Boundary and Line of Control,” he said.
He said New Delhi violated the Vienna Convention by detaining a Pakistani high commission official, and added that the two countries need to sit and tackle the bilateral issues.
The spokesman said Prime Minister Imran Khan will pay a two-day visit to Qatar from Monday on the invitation of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hammad Al Thani. During the visit, he said, the prime minister will also hold meeting with prime minister of the country to discuss issues of mutual interest. The spokesman said that multiple contracts are expected to be signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia during the upcoming visit of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Dates for the visit are currently under consideration and will be decided soon, he added.
Published in Daily Times, January 18th 2019.
