ISLAMABAD: Reiterating its commitment to any dialogue process for bringing peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan, Pakistan on Thursday voiced its full support for an Afghan-led reconciliation process.
“Pakistan wants permanent peace in Afghanistan and will support any effort in this regard,” said the Foreign Office Spokesman Moazzam Ahmed Khan in his weekly briefing here at Foreign Office.
Replying to a question, the Spokesman said Pakistan would continue its full support and cooperation to any reconciliation process for ensuring peace and security in Afghanistan but the process should be transparent and Afghan soil should not be used against Pakistan in any case.
The spokesman said Pakistan has demanded the Afghan government to hand over Maulvi Faqir Mohammad to Pakistan who is involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said Pakistan has also asked Afghanistan to hand over all those involved in the terrorist activities and residing in different areas of Afghanistan.
He said Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar had spoken to Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassuol last night on telephone in this regard.
The spokesman said Pakistan hoped that all those terrorists involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan would be arrested by Afghan government and handed over to Pakistan.
Answering a question he said some countries have reservations over handing over Gwadar Port operation to China but Pakistan has the right to take decision in its supreme national interest.
He said the decision to hand over the operation of Gwadar Port to China is purely on economic and commercial basis and no country has the right to object this deal.
Replying to a question about writing letter for handing over former Chairman OGRA Tauqir Sadiq to Pakistan, the spokesman confirmed that Pakistan has received a positive reply from United Arabs Emirates regarding deportation of Tauqir Sadiq.
He confirmed that Pakistan has formally written to the UAE government to arrest and deport Tauqir Sadiq to Pakistan.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said the United States and Pakistan have been working to finalise a modality to ensure safe passage to the American and ISAF forces during their withdrawal from Afghanistan during 2013 and 2014.
On the issue of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, the spokesman said although Pakistan knew the reservations of United States on the project due to unilateral sanctions announced against Iran but Pakistan is committed to the project due to shortage of energy.
He said despite international pressure, Pakistan will go for the Pak-Iran gas project as it is necessary for resolving its energy crisis as it is in national interest of Pakistan, Relying to a question on drone attacks, the spokesman said Pakistan has raised this issue at all the meetings and conveyed its sentiment that these are violation of its sovereignty and integrity and these attacks are counter-productive.
Commenting to a claim by India that it has over 106 km long border with Afghanistan, the spokesman said “it is laughable claim”.
The spokesman said India has no legal and geographical ground to give such statements.
