ISLAMABAD, March 26: Pakistan cautioned the United States and its allies in the war on terror on Thursday against increasing the use of force in Afghanistan and said the strategy would not work.

“Force alone has not worked in the past, nor will it work in future,” said Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit at the weekly media briefing.

The statement was made in response to a question about the Obama administration’s review of US policy towards Afghanistan.

Mr Basit said it was absolutely important for all countries and stakeholders to work for promoting development and national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

“It is important that the international community rethinks and reworks its approach so as to win the hearts and minds of the people.”

He said the failed US policy towards Afghanistan warranted a comprehensive and regional approach to resolve issues confronting the region.

He expressed Pakistan’s readiness to contribute constructively for developing a comprehensive approach to issues of security and counter-terrorism as well as promoting regional development cooperation.

Pakistan is further expecting the US to announce a change in its strategy on drone strikes inside its territory.

“We have put across our viewpoint with sincerity and with the hope that they would review their policy also in the context of drone attacks,” Mr Basit said, adding that Pakistan was hoping that the US understood its concerns and would rethink its policies accordingly.

Rejecting renewed fears about the security of Pakistan’s nukes and reports of foreign involvement in their protection, the spokesman said: “Pakistan’s armed forces were fully capable of taking care of our strategic assets and facilities. We do not need foreign assistance in this regard.”

He underscored that the nuclear assets were completely safe and secure under “fully indigenous, multi-layered, institutionalised security and command and control structure” that has been in place since 1998.

Kishanganga project

Replying to a question about the Kishanganga project, Mr Basit said Pakistan could invoke the dispute settlement mechanism under the Indus Water Treaty. The mechanism provides for appointment of a neutral expert.

India is building the 330MW Kishanganga project on a river near Bandipora in Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan believes India is diverting the waters destined for Neelum River to Wullar lake for power generation in violation of the Indus Treaty.

Rejecting allegations by the Indian army that militants recently killed in Kupwara were from Lashkar-i-Taiba and they had been assisted by Pakistani ‘state and security forces’ in crossing into the occupied territory, Mr Basit said the statement was part of a campaign aimed at portraying Pakistan as the core of problems bedevilling India.

“These are evidently self-serving and tend to externalise India’s problems as part of the current
election campaign.”
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