Beware of spoilers on Afghanistan peace: Pakistan.
Byline: SHAFQAT ALI
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan yesterday cautioned the United States and the world to remain 'watchful' of the role of spoilers who do not wish to see an end to the Afghan conflict.
Speaking at a weekly news briefing here, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal said Pakistan will continue to support all peaceful efforts in this regard, as it had done in the past.
'However, at this critical time, it is important to remain watchful of the role of spoilers who do not wish to see an end to the Afghan conflict. Pakistan welcomes the resumption of direct talks between the US and Taliban,' he said.
Faisal said Pakistan had always held that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. 'We hope that the Peace Process is concluded soon and it leads to an intra-Afghan dialogue and reduction of violence,' he added.
He said that US Senator Lindsey Graham was an advocate of deepening and broadening of relations between Pakistan and United States. 'He has always been a strong supporter of stabilization in Afghanistan,' he remarked.
FO says Islamabad positive about Taliban talks
The spokesperson strongly denounced the assassination of Japanese physician and devoted aid worker Tetsu Nakamura in Afghanistan. He said Nakamura changed the lives of thousands of Afghan people and his work has been recognized internationally.
He added: 'We share the grief and pain of the Afghan and Japanese people in this tragic incident. He said at this critical juncture, it can only be the work of spoilers who do not want to see a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.'
He said that Pakistan's policy regarding Afghanistan was clear and Prime Minister Imran Khan had reiterated it several times, that there can only be a political solution to the Afghan conflict. 'It is heartening to note that all the global powers are now coming to this conclusion as well,' Faisal said.
Pakistan, he said, desired for an early holding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit to promote regional cooperation.
'All the other South Asian countries except one (India) have also expressed the desire of early happening of the summit. The 19th SAARC summit will be held in Islamabad and it is to be seen whether India wants to move forward on SAARC,' he said.
When asked about the contentious Indian citizenship legislation, the spokesperson said Pakistan and other regional countries had condemned it. He said, this act of India was driven by a toxic mix of...
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