- Says Pakistan to install more gates at Pak-Afghan border
- Says border skirmish shouldn’t be termed as war
ISLAMABAD, June 16: Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Nafees Zakaria has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in talks to defuse tension on Torkham Border. He said that Torkham border clash shouldn’t be termed as a war. He said that Afghanistan is Pakistan’s neighbouring country and we have an association with it. He said Afghanistan was wrongly guided regarding the construction of gate at Torkham Border, adding that the construction of gate is part of our better border management efforts. He said the gates will be installed at other places too. He said Pakistan is committed to just solution of the Kashmir issue. He said Kashmir is important part of Pakistan and India dialogues, adding that whenever negotiations
between Pakistan and India will take place Kashmir will be important part of dialogues. He said Pakistan strongly condemns human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir and it has raised the issue at various international forums. He said terrorism is an international problem and it could not be linked with any single country, adding that the Pakistani residing in US are playing vital role in the development of that country. He said the US leadership has also appreciated the services of Pakistani community.
During weekly media briefing Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan’s border management efforts are part of counter-terrorism actions.
The spokesman said that the issue of Durand Line was a settled issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said the United Nations and world countries recognize the Pak-Afghan border.
The spokesman said all efforts for peace in Afghanistan are welcome and Pakistan supports them as part of Quadrilateral Cooperation Group.
He said Afghans are being misguided by those elements which do not want peace in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan took indiscriminate action against all terror groups under Operation Zarb-e-Azb which reduced number of terror incidents in the country.
Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan desired Afghan government and international community to take steps for repatriation of Afghan refugees in a dignified way.
To a question, the spokesman said Pakistan is committed to just solution of the Kashmir issue.
He said Pakistan strongly condemns human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir and it has raised the issue at various international forums.
To a question, the spokesman said the response of Iran to Pakistan’s letter was part of its cooperation. Nafees Zakria said Pakistan is opposed to “//countries-specific exemptions//” for the membership of nuclear suppliers group (NSG). The spokesman said we desire level playing field and criteria based approach which treats the applications of Pakistan and India in an non-discriminatory manner. He said the two applications cannot be considered in isolation from the goal of maintaining strategic stability in South Asia. He said Pakistan NSG members would agree to develop non-discriminatory and criteria based approach for the membership in its next meeting in Seoul. To a question, the spokesman said Pakistan is likely to attract 475 million dollar foreign portfolio investment after being declared as emerging market. He said Pakistan will become full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization in its summit at Tashkent next week.-Sabah/DNA
