Stability in Afghanistan vital for Pakistan: Khar
She was speaking on "Changing Regional and Global Environment; Pakistan's Perspective" at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. The audience included a cross section of the representatives of German society including political, social sector, business community and academic circles.
In her keynote address, the foreign minister dilated upon Afghan situation, Pakistan-US relations and the various reforms introduced by the present government to strengthen democracy and the civil society in Pakistan.
She emphasised that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan was absolute imperative for the prosperity of Pakistan. She said besides looking after around 2.5 million Afghan refugees, Pakistan was actively contributing towards reconstructing and rebuilding Afghanistan.
Pakistan was providing 2,000 fully-funded scholarships and over 500,000 Afghan children were benefiting from our education system, Khar said, and added that Pakistan government hospitals were providing free medical treatment to Afghans.
Referring to Pakistan's relations with the US, the foreign minister said that after a belated "sorry" by the US for the Salala tragedy, Pakistan-US relations were now back on track. Nato supply routes from Pakistan to Afghanistan had been reopened, she added.
She, however, stated that unilateral drone strikes were complicating the situation. Besides being in violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and international law, they were proving counter-productive, she added.
Foreign Minister Khar also said that the democratic government, since it came into power, has taken a number of steps to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure maximum provincial autonomy. The minister said that constitutional amendments have been made by the parliament to remove anomalies inserted by the dictators of the past.
She said that political reforms have been introduced to ensure maximum representation and participation by the people in the system of governance. Civil society in Pakistan has become increasingly vocal and media and judiciary are now fully independent and active, she added.
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@Zalmai:
Dream on!
The word "Terror"was apparently not included in the address. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Such delicate touch:)
Did ms Khar explain to the German audiences how OBL managed to live inside Pakistan for so long and what has the Govt Commission ( announced with much fanfare) revealed? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Surely skipping this topic confirms the worst suspicions.
@Adnan: "Thats precisely why we want stability!" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Every body has a different definition of stability. Thats the problem !
Pakistan is at war with itself and it needs to worry about the intimate enemies that it has spawned and nurtured inside Pakistan. Afghanistan and India don't need to lift a finger in the eventual demise of Pakistan.
She was speaking on “Changing Regional and Global Environment; Pakistan’s Perspective” at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. The audience included a cross section of the representatives of German society including political, social sector, business community and academic circles. Given the factual ground realities and how much top military brass gives freedom to civil foreign minister, to me, she was not the competent and fully informed representative for such topic and forum. Germany is an extremely important Western country and for such topic and forum COAS of Pakistan Army should had participated. Or might be it was an intentional attempt to disguise at the part of foreign ministry to keep the West in Haze and Smoke from actual developments back at home where Gen Kiani preparing to visit Russia ,the first ever Pakistani COAS to do so. President Puntin also planning to visit Pakistan in current month with a large delegation. All such on going developments speak a big change in regional scenario from Pakistan perspective. If foreign ministry is of the view that it could hide the actual Pakistani perspective from the West it is grossly mistaken. These countries are much ahead of Pakistan is such tactics and politics. It is true Afghanistan has lot of importance to achieve the regional stability but not the only country to which the whole region should focus. Pakistan itself is victim of various problems which are leading to its instability thus endangering the regional stability. Iran, Saudi Arabia and other middle East countries are also not exempted. Our security and foreign policy needs radical changes to cater for these internal aspects which to me are more dangerous relative to Afghan problem. However our political and military elite since has entirely different agenda so where it will take the country God knows better. One can only pray for Pakistan.
@Jat:
Thats precisely why we want stability!
By the way, ever heard of 'encirclement'?
now that is out . when is Pakistan going to go after the Haqannis ?
A very active judiciary is indeed existing in your country but has no respect out side and even inside Pakistan .
Vienna,September 4,2012 It is strange the Pakistan Minister of Foreign Affairs did not address on its own sovereignty on its geographical territory and within it the rule of law. It should have more concern for the rule of law within Pakistan. As we see now with the absence of the rule of law, Pakistan faces internal threat to its entire power base including all accumulated strategic assets.Afghanistan is beyond its borders. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna