Pakistan says decision to boycott Bonn conference is final

"Of course it's the final word. Pakistan is not attending," official confirms.


Reuters November 30, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's decision not to attend the Bonn conference in Germany next week, taken to protest against the Nato cross-border attack that killed 24 soldiers, is final, a foreign ministry official said on Wednesday. 

"Of course it's the final word. Pakistan is not attending," the official told Reuters, shortly after the German government urged Islamabad to reverse its stand.

Pakistan pulled out of the conference on the future of Afghanistan on Tuesday in reaction to the “unprovoked” cross-border attack by Nato forces, that plunged US-Pakistani relations deeper into crisis.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in Lahore.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she regretted Pakistan’s decision to boycott the conference but hoped to secure Islamabad’s cooperation in future.

“Nothing will be gained by turning our backs on mutually beneficial cooperation. Frankly it is regrettable that Pakistan has decided not to attend the conference in Bonn,” Clinton told a news conference in South Korea.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had telephoned Gilani to urge him to reconsider the boycott of the conference, officials in both countries said.

Karzai’s deputy spokesman Siamak Herawi told AFP that Pakistan was an important participant in the conference aimed at bridging peace after 10 years of war against the Taliban, and expressed hope that they would ultimately attend.

“President Hamid Karzai called Prime Minister Gilani and officially asked the Pakistan government to participate in the Bonn conference,” said Herawi.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was “very sorry” about Pakistan’s announced boycott of  the conference and would try to convince it to attend.

Merkel said Germany would “see what could be done to change” Islamabad’s decision to stay away from the meeting in the western German city.

COMMENTS (50)

MAJ Nevers | 12 years ago | Reply

We are all witnessing the aftermath of an incident that is thoroughly testing the complex relationship between Pakistan and the United States. There have been instances before which have spread enough misunderstanding and hostility among the two nations; yet the leadership of both countries have in the end remained committed to working through and resolving these problems. Reason for this lies in the fundamental fact that both countries know what is at stake. We both realize the dire need to work together because peace and stability in Afghanistan are in the national interest of Pakistan, and vice versa. The Bonn Conference is a golden opportunity for Pakistan and Afghanistan to bring their concerns, regarding insurgencies and peace negotiations, to the table and work towards a solution. The future of Afghanistan is of vital importance to all its neighbors. Hence, we, the Afghan government, and even Pakistan have all acknowledged that lasting peace in Afghanistan cannot be achieved without the help of Pakistan. We understand and fully recognize the frustration and anger felt by the Pakistani people and government. However, we cannot help wondering how this decision would benefit the national interests of Pakistan. If Pakistan believes that bringing peace to Afghanistan is good and necessary for Pakistan’s sake, wouldn’t a boycott of the conference prove counterproductive, since peace negotiations with the Taliban is an issue that Pakistan has to deal with in the future?

MAJ Nevers, DET - U.S. Central Command

G. Din | 12 years ago | Reply

@Hedgefunder: "I am a bakra or a sheep, can’t figure it out. Can someone please help me?" What difference does it make? Either way, you are destined to be on the plate served over dinner! It is not good to know that for either a bakra or a sheep, is it?

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