Friday, December 13, 2024
Islamabad (News International / Pakistan News - 13th Dec, 2024 ) : The Foreign Office Spokesperson in Islamabad, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said during a weekly media briefing that the recent meetings between Pakistani and Afghan officials are proof that Pakistan is interested in resolving the “issues that arise from time to time” between the two sides “through constructive dialogue and negotiation.”
It should be noted that the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad, Sardar Ahmed Shakib, met with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar last week. The meeting came shortly after the meeting between Pakistani Chargé d’Affaires Obaid Nizamani and Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob in Kabul.
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After their meetings, the impression was that the two sides were trying to reorient relations after the tensions that Pakistan has leveled against the Afghan Taliban over allegations that they provide sanctuary to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on its soil.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are tense due to Kabul's failure to crack down on the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliated groups.
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Pakistan had practically limited its contacts with the interim Afghan government to express its displeasure, but now Pakistan has resumed efforts to put pressure on Kabul to end the stalemate.
The first indication of this is the appointment of a special envoy for Afghanistan, for which experienced diplomat Mohammad Sadiq has been selected to improve relations with Kabul.
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Terrorism issue at the top
When Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was asked about this, she said that the recent meetings between the two sides are proof that Islamabad is interested in resolving all issues through dialogue.
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Last week, she had said in a statement in this regard that the issue of counter-terrorism is at the top of the bilateral agenda. However, she also insisted that the meeting of the Afghan diplomat with Ishaq Dar was a ‘courtesy meeting’, for which the Afghan side had requested some time ago.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “I have said many times that there are direct channels of communication between Pakistan and Afghanistan. We continue to discuss all issues of mutual concern. The issue of terrorism, which Pakistan faces, is at the top of the bilateral agenda between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson, while reiterating concerns about the TTP’s sanctuaries on Afghan soil, said, “Pakistan’s concerns remain with regard to these terrorist groups, which have found safe havens inside Afghanistan and are given a free hand to carry out attacks against Pakistan.
This issue is on the agenda of the talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
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She added, “We have always stressed on dialogue to resolve these issues. We expect Afghanistan to ensure that these terrorist groups do not pose a threat to Pakistan’s security.
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She added, “We condemn any individual, institution or facilitator who supports these terrorist activities. If you have seen the recent statement from the Federal Apex Committee meeting of the National Action Plan, you will recall that it expressed concern about foreign sponsors.
The issue of Syrian sovereignty
The Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson also spoke about the Syrian crisis during the weekly briefing and said that Pakistan is concerned about Israel’s violations of Syrian sovereignty.
She called for a comprehensive plan of action to resolve the Syrian crisis.
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Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “We express our full support for Syria’s sovereignty, state unity and territorial integrity.”
It should be noted that after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Israeli forces have entered deep into the Golan Heights and Israel has so far carried out about 500 airstrikes on military targets across Syria.
“We are watching the developments in Syria and are concerned about the escalation of violence,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in Islamabad. She added that the political solution to the crisis should be in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people.
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“The Syrian people have the right to determine their own future and decide their own destiny. We also support efforts for a comprehensive political process, as envisioned under Resolution 2254 and unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council,” she said.
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