Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry has said that dialogue with the Taliban under the consensus developed in the APC will have salutary impact on peace in the country in particular and regional environment in general.
Talking in a Radio programme, the spokesman said that Pakistan always pleaded resolution of issues through dialogue. He said they had same approach towards India and Afghanistan. In the APC‚ political leadership had developed a consensus that the matters would be resolved through dialogue which would have positive impact, he added.
The spokesman said that peace in Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan and the region. To a question‚ he said Pakistan was in constant contact with Afghanistan and the US governments, and there was trilateral mechanism to resolve the issues.
He said Pakistan was pursuing a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and wanted the Afghan leadership to resolve their issues. He said they had also welcomed the Qatar dialogue process aimed at moving forward the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
To a question about scenario after US forces withdrawal in 2014‚ the spokesman said Pakistan had a clear stand that it would not allow its soil to be used against any other country for terrorism and would not allow any other country to use its soil against Pakistan.
He said there would be a vacuum after the withdrawal but Pakistan wanted that it should be filled by the Afghans themselves and not any other country. He said Pakistan fully supported the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace initiative and would continue to play a role of a facilitator.
About drone attacks‚ the spokesman said Pakistan was pursuing a very clear stand in this regard that these attacks were violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and international laws and were counter-productive. The attacks were increasing militancy and sentiments against America and harming counter-terrorism efforts, he added.
Referring to the APC decision‚ the spokesman said that the UN was a legitimate forum and matters relating to drone attacks should be discussed there. He said the present government had adopted a forceful stand against drone attacks and it had gained recognition at world level.
He said it was merely a propaganda that drone attacks were being carried out with the consent of Pakistan. He said Pakistan could not allow such attacks against its people on its soil.
The spokesman said that after the APC decision‚ the matters relating to drone attacks would be raised at all the UN-related forums.
To a question‚ the spokesman said the government had in principle decided to release senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to promote Afghan peace process. He said he would be released at some appropriate time. Pakistan had already released 33 Taliban leaders, the spokesman further revealed.
