Pakistan hopes Afghan Taliban return to negotiating table

Prime minister is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on the September 30, says FO spokesperson

Pakistan expressed on Thursday hope that Afghan Taliban will renounce violence and return to the negotiating table, Radio Pakistan reported.

"Pakistan supports Afghan reconciliation process and hopes Afghan Taliban will renounce violence and return to the negotiating table," Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said, during his weekly press briefing.

Read: US, Pakistan to persuade Kabul to resume stalled talks

Commenting on Pak-Afghan border issues, the spokesperson said the two neighbours are discussing measures to keep the border peaceful.

Nawaz to address UNGA on September 30

Further, the spokesperson said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the 30th of this month.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stance on reform in the UN, Khalilullah said, "Pakistan stands for reforms in the United Nations with the consensus of all member states but is opposed to the addition of new permanent members to the Security Council."

"Pakistan is committed to the goals of nuclear non-proliferation and wishes to join the Nuclear Supplies Group," he added.

Ceasefire violations

Urging India to honour the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement, the foreign office spokesperson said there was a disconnect between what Indian side says and the ground reality.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan lodged a strong protest with India over ceasefire violations after a Pakistani soldier was killed in ‘unprovoked firing’ by Indian troops at the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday.

Read: Pakistan urges India to halt ceasefire violations immediately

“The Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the director general (South Asia & SAARC) and a protest was lodged over the latest unprovoked ceasefire violations by India at the LoC,” read a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Wednesday.

Read: Clashes rock Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound

Pakistan condemns Al Aqsa mosque clashes

Responding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan condemns the desecration of Al Aqsa Mosque and use of force against peaceful worshippers by Israeli forces. He reiterated Pakistan's stand for an independent Palestinian state comprising pre-1967 border with Al-Quds as its capital.