ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office reminded the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) on Thursday that solution to the Afghan conflict lay in political settlement and not in boosting troop numbers in the war-ravaged country.

“Pakistan believes that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict, and a political solution is imperative for a lasting peace and stability. It is very important for Afghanistan to be at peace with itself and its neighbours,” FO spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal said at his weekly media briefing.

He was sharing Pakistan’s position on Nato’s decision to increase the strength of its Resolute Support Mission (RSM) in Afghanistan by 3,000 troops to 1,6000. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made the announcement on additional troops at the end of a two-day meeting of the alliance’s defence ministers in Brussels on Tuesday.

The additional numbers are to come from the 27 countries that have made fresh commitments. The current 13,000 troops have been provided by 39 countries.

Surge in troops’ number not to bring peace and stability to war-ravaged country, says Pakistan

There is little enthusiasm even among some of the key European allies about the troops’ surge and the alliance is struggling to provide troops for the agreed numbers. Powerful Nato allies are looking towards new RSM participants Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to help in meeting the target. Otherwise, the United States would have to meet the shortfall.

The FO spokesman also rejected the Nato chief’s safe havens allegation and said the alliance, instead of pointing fingers at Pakistan, should strive to deal with ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan.

“We completely reject baseless allegations of bases in Pakistan. There are no organised bases of any terrorist organisations anywhere in the country. Such fallacious assertions are counter-productive and detrimental,” he said.

Dr Faisal recalled that over 45 per cent of Afghan territory was ungoverned and uncontrolled. “Taliban operate from these areas, affecting not only Afghanistan but Pakistan (also). It is in this area that Nato should focus to ensure end to violence and terrorism in the region,” he maintained.

Nato chief Stoltenberg told journalists in Brussels on Tuesday that terrorist safe havens in Pakistan were a challenge for efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

“We have to address the big challenge that [the] Taliban, the insurgents are working also out of bases in Pakistan. And we have raised that (issue) several times. It is extremely important that all countries in the region support efforts of the Afghan national unity government and that no country provide any kind of sanctuary for the terrorists,” he said.

Killing in Jalalabad

The FO spokesman refused to say who Islamabad suspected of being behind the killing of a Pakistani diplomatic staffer in Jalalabad (Afghanistan). As per some reports the killing had been claimed by the militant Islamic State group.

“Investigations have been initiated by the Afghan authorities and it would be inappropriate to comment about the perpetrators at this juncture,” he said.

Rana Nayyar Iqbal, who worked in the visa section of Pakistan consulate in Jalalabad, was shot dead on Monday while shopping in a market near his residence.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani later ordered an investigation into the incident and extended condolences to the Pakistan government.

Dr Faisal, however, recalled that several “actors” in Afghanistan were averse to better relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

“We are cognizant of such machinations and would not let such elements succeed in their nefarious intentions. You are aware about the nexus between RAW and terrorist networks in Afghanistan, including TTP, JuA and other terrorist organisations. They have been involved in subversive activities inside Pakistan and also working against the national interest of Pakistan in Afghanistan,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2017