Pakistan demands Fazlullah from Afghan govt

• Sartaj Aziz says cross-border attacks a serious issue, Pakistan discussing better border management with Afghan authorities
• PM’s adviser says govt under no threat from PTI’s long march

Pressing the Afghan government to hand over Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah, Pakistan Monday cited its concerns for Pak-Afghan border management.

Talking to journalists in the federal capital, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that terrorist attacks from the Afghan soil was a serious issue and Pakistan was in touch with the Afghan authorities for better management of the border. He also called for the installation of biometric verification system on border’s crossing points.

Aziz stated in categorical terms that Pakistan would fully protect its border and retaliate to any agitation from across the border. He said that terrorists were common enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan and both the countries should fully cooperate in tackling them.

PTI’S LONG MARCH:

Responding to a question about the country’s internal situation, Aziz said that the democratic system faced no threat from the long march being organised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Continuity of democracy was vital for the progress and prosperity of the country and no extra constitutional step will be tolerated, he added.

ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES:

Referring to the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war against terrorism, the adviser on foreign affairs said that the operation launched in North Waziristan Agency against terrorists was proceeding successfully as large parts of the area have been cleared of militants.

Expressing the resolve to eliminate all local and foreign terrorist groups, Aziz said that the objective was to establish writ of the state and not let the territory be used against any other country.

Aziz said that the security of all foreign nationals especially Chinese working in Pakistan was their top priority as the prime minister has issued specific instructions to all concerned agencies to provide foolproof security to Chinese citizens.

PAKISTAN-CHINA FRIENDSHIP:

Earlier, addressing a seminar on “Building China Pakistan Community of Shared Destiny in the New Era”, Aziz said that friendship with China was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

The trajectory of friendship and cooperation between the two countries had moved steadily upwards, crossing a new threshold in the past 14 months.

Aziz said that Pakistan-China cooperation had expanded from political and defense fields to industry, energy, water and power, agriculture and infrastructure projects. Both the countries were making conscious efforts to further improve cooperation in joint ventures, high-tech industry, telecom and manufacturing.

Aziz also said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a landmark project which would connect China with Karachi and Gwadar.

PAKISTAN-INDIA TIES:

On Pakistan-India talks, the adviser said that foreign secretaries of the two countries were scheduled to meet on 25th. He said Pakistan believed in a peaceful neighborhood and had reached out to India for improved bilateral relations.