Spokesman says Islamabad ready to facilitate intra-Afghan dialogue. PHOTO: PID
Pakistan on Thursday called on India to prevent its soil from being used for ‘hatching conspiracies’ to destabalise its western neighbour.
“We expect India not to allow its soil to be used for hatching conspiracies against Pakistan,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qazi Khalilluah said at his weekly briefing in Islamabad.
He added that the international community was aware Indian state actors were involved in surreptitious activities to foment terrorism in neighbouring countries, including Pakistan.
Qazi pointed to the three dossiers Pakistan had presented to the UN Secretary General bearing evidence of India’s involvement in Balochistan and Karachi in addition to fanning terrorism by supporting banned outfits including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
He also accused India of committing state-terrorism in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Qazi said India had long been accusing Pakistan of backing non-state actors for creating problems in other countries. But most of the terrorist incidents in India, which were then used to accuse and malign Pakistan, had proven to be false.
“Terrorism is our common enemy. A cooperative approach is required to deal with the menace,” Qazi advised.
Asked about recent revelations about Afghan national Balaach Pardili, who has been granted refuge in India for launching a campaign for separation of Balochistan from Pakistan, the spokesperson said Pakistan expects Afghanistan to take up the issue with New Delhi. He added that Kabul needs to ensure that its nationals living in India do not create trouble in Pakistan.
Talking about the prospects of bilateral talks resuming between the hyphenated but hostile neighbours, the foreign office spokesperson said Pakistan was ready to re-engage India, but without any pre-conditions.
On the subject of inviting veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani to Pakistan, Qazi desisted from outlining finer points of any agenda, but said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wanted to exchange views on the current situation in Indian Kashmir.
“We expect that his visit to Pakistan would be helpful in projecting the voice of Kashmiris in Pakistan and internationally,” he added.
Intra-Afghan dialogue key for peace
With talks between the Afghan Taliban and the National Unity Government in Kabul stalled, the FO spokesperson stressed that Pakistan was making all efforts for resumption of the dialogue.
“It is our firm belief that peace in Afghanistan is vital for peace in Pakistan. Intra-Afghan dialogue is essential for lasting peace in Afghanistan,” he stressed.
“This is the reason we responded in all sincerity to the Afghan request to facilitate their reconciliation process.”
Qazi added that Pakistan was ready to facilitate talks, should Kabul so desire. “We are still ready to facilitate the peace talks, if the Afghan Government so desires. International community also desires continuation of the peace process in Afghanistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2015.
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