ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan believes that reconciliation is the only way forward for bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.
“There are many challenges in the reconciliation process and Pakistan has always called for patience and perseverance to settle the Afghan issue,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said at the weekly media briefing while talking about the reported closure of Taliban office in Doha, Qatar.
The spokesman said all stakeholders should be engaged for the positive outcome of the reconciliation process.
On the recent spate of allegations leveled by Afghan authorities against Pakistan‚ the spokesperson said, “Pakistan do not want to raise the temperature and want peaceful relations with the neighboring country.”
“We want to see a united‚ peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan and hoped that our sincerity will be reciprocated,” he said.
When asked about Pakistan-China civil nuclear cooperation‚ Chaudhry said this is an ongoing cooperation and the two countries are collaborating in this sphere under the IAEA safeguards.
On relations with India‚ the spokesperson said the present government has given a clear signal for improved relations with New Delhi.
Emphasizing the need for resumption of composite dialogue process‚ he said the prime minister will visit the United Nations General Assembly and in case the Indian prime minister is there‚ we will try to engage at the leadership level.
The spokesman said both India and Pakistan exchanged lists of prisoners on the first of this month. We have called upon the Indian government to release those prisoners who have completed their due process.
On the situation in Egypt‚ Chaudhry said Pakistan has fraternal relations with the country.
“Pakistan being saddened over the recent happenings there have stressed the need for respect of values of democracy,” the spokesman said.
Chaudhry said he hoped the people and government of Egypt will be able to handle the issue in a democratic manner. He said our mission is in close contact with the Pakistanis there.
DND
