- Dr Faisal says Pakistan, US working together for stability in the region
- NSA Janjua says Pakistan considers Afghanistan as a brother
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday said that peaceful political settlement and stability in Afghanistan was a shared purpose of Pakistan and the United States.
During a weekly press briefing, FO Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan was the only country in the region that had actually taken counter-terrorism measures for regional stability.
“Pakistan is committed to supporting the efforts leading towards peace, whether from USA or Afghanistan,” he added.
He said that both Pakistan and US were working together towards stability in the region and truly believed that an Afghan-owned political government was the solution of Afghan issue.
Regarding the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan, he said that Afghan authorities had assured their complete assistance in the matter.
Dr Faisal went on to say that Pakistan wanted to avoid any confrontation with India, adding that, however, its armed forces were fully prepared to respond to any retaliation.
“Indian brutalities and gross human rights violations in occupied Kashmir continue unabated and with impunity. The Indian occupation forces killed eight Kashmiri youths in Shopian, Pulwama and Hajin areas,” he said.
The spokesperson said that Pakistan kept raising its voice to point out Indian hypocrisy in occupied Kashmir. “We urge the international community to pay due attention to the matter and hold India accountable for its crimes against humanity in Indian occupied Kashmir,” he said.
Replying to another query about the Syrian conflict, he said that Pakistan urged a peaceful settlement of the issues with respect to Syrian boundaries. However, he added that medical assistance, food and shelter must be provided to the displaced innocent men, women and children in Syria.
“It is important to have human solidarity,” he added.
Dr Faisal said that Pakistan and Afghanistan had a history of mutual trading. He added that Pakistan was opening new points for trade routes from Afghanistan.
“With the opening of the Pak-Afghan Ghulam Khan border in March, there will be four routes through which the trade will be conducted with Afghanistan,” he informed.
Answering a question about Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia, Dr Faisal said that “our foreign missions in Jeddah were working together to facilitate the Pakistani diasporas there”.
“Our embassies in Riyadh and Jeddah are ensuring the well-being of Pakistanis at every possible level. Saudi Arabia has always extended its full support, and around 300-350 visas are issued monthly to Pakistanis intending to go there,” he told.
About SAARC summit, he said that being a strong member of SAARC, it depended on India’s willingness.
He further said that Pakistan strongly condemned the brutal killings of innocent Kashmiris and the detention, yet again, of JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik for leading a peaceful protest on the fateful killings of innocent people in Jammu Kashmir last week.
NSA JANJUA SAYS NEED TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL TRUST: Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua said that Pakistan considers Afghanistan as a brother and believes that both the countries share a common future.
Talking to a delegation of Afghan students from different Universities in Islamabad, he reiterated that the youth of both the countries should join hands and step forward for strengthening the bilateral trust
He said the two countries should march towards peace together to stabilise the region.
The delegation appreciated the positive approach of Pakistan towards Afghanistan and awarding scholarships to the Afghan students.
The Afghan student discussed different problems they are faced with while studying in Pakistan. Upon which, he assured the students that their concerns will be addressed by the relevant authorities.