‘Ties with Afghanistan have improved’

Pakistan is supporting and facilitating peace process in Afghanistan and currently relationship with Afghanistan has improved.
These views were expressed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry special secretary while briefing the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Affairs presided over by Senator Haji Adeel
The committee discussed in detail the Afghan peace process with particular reference to talks with the Taliban and role of Pakistan in opening the office of the Taliban at Doha. Adeel and other members observed that peace process is important, however steps should be taken to improve security situation with in the country also.
He said that Pakistan has suffered a lot because of terrorism. He said, “We should not compromise on our national interests.”
The committee chairman also said the matter was of national significance and needs detailed discussion.
He decided to take up the matter in presence of the advisor to the PM on Foreign Affairs and secretary of the ministry.
Earlier, the committee was given a detailed briefing on talks with the Taliban and role of Pakistan in peace process. The special secretary informed the committee that Pakistan is playing the role of a facilitator for positive and constructive engagement.
It was stated that Pakistan supports an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. The PM has extended an invitation to the Afghan president and the latter has extended invitation to the former for a visit.
The committee through a resolution strongly condemned the brutal killing of innocent mountaineers from China, Ukraine, Lithonia and Slovakia at Nanga Parbat base camp.
The committee expressed its deep sympathies with the government and families of the deceased. The perpetrators of this barbarous act, the committee observed, wanted to defame Pakistan and derail its relation with the friendly countries through such acts.
Pakistan, itself a victim of terrorism, denounce it in all its forms, the resolution says. The Committee urged up on the government to track dawn the culprits of this gruesome acts and award them exemplary punishment.
The resolution was moved by Senator Sehar Kamran which was unanimously passed by the Standing Committee.
The committee expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that no senior official/officer from the Foreign Office had visited the embassies to condole the killing of mountaineers. Senator Haji Adeel, Senator Sehar Kamran and other members were of the view that senior officers of the Foreign Ministry should have visited the embassies to register their condolences over the tragic incident. “we have some social norms and values to express our sympathies on such occasions”, Senator Sehar Kamran said.
The committee also expressed its dismay over the firing incident on Naqeebullah Ibrahim Khel, 3rd secretary of the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad and directed the Interior Ministry to ensure security of the diplomats.
The body also held further discussion on Pakistanis detained in Indian jails and Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails. The committee expressed its satisfaction that counsellor access has been extended to Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails and expressed the hope that Indian authorities would reciprocate and will extend counselor access to all Pakistani prisoners in Indian Jails.
The meeting was attended by senators Jahangir Badr, Farhatullah Babar, Sehar Kamran, Mushahid Hussain, Sughra Imam, Babar Khan Ghauri and Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. Senate’s Special Secretary Amjad Pervez, the special secretary to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other officials of the ministry were also present.