ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Norway on Monday appreciated Pakistan’s firm support to the international community against terrorism and expressed desire for Islamabad and New Delhi to engage in dialogue to resolve the outstanding issues including Kashmir.
“We greatly respect the government of President Musharraf for its firm decision in support of the global coalition against terrorism,” Norwegian State Secretary, Vidar Helgensen told reporters here after meeting with Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar.
He termed terrorism an international phenomenon which “required action from entire international community”.
The coalition includes people from all religions and cultures and it is not against any religion, he added.
Mr Helgensen said he discussed with Abdul Sattar the future political setup in Afghanistan in the post-Taliban scenario.
Moreover, he said: “We agreed on a need for a broad-based, multi-ethnic government that incorporates as many segments as possible of Afghan people,” he added.
To a question on the Kashmir issue, he said: “We maintained that two parties (Pakistan and India) have the responsibility to continue dialogue and take the Agra process forward and try to get together again.”
He expressed the hope that the two sides might have an opportunity of meeting on the sidelines of the coming UN General Assembly moot by the end of this week.
He also appealed to the international community to facilitate dialogue between the two parties.
Responding to a question, he said that the Norwegian government had provided $32 million in assistance for the Afghan refugees during this year.
To a question, the Norwegian secretary expressed regrets over the loss of civilian lives in Afghanistan during the US-led airstrikes but said Norway was fully supportive of the coalition’s campaign against the Taliban and in getting Al-Qaeda network and Osama bin Laden.
But, he said, our information was that the bombing in Afghanistan was very precise and of the “3000 air raids, only 10 non-military targets were hit.” To a question, he observed that “humanitarian situation in Afghanistan would improve once the Taliban were relieved and the military objective achieved.”
He also informed that Norwegian development minister would soon visit Pakistan to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries. —APP
