Pakistan is concerned about negative afghan comments; FO.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan has reiterated its firm commitment for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. While Pakistan's efforts are acknowledged and appreciated by the Afghan society and the international community, Pakistan is concerned about some negative comments which continue to emanate from certain official as well as unofficial Afghan circles.

Foreign office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has said that as the Afghan peace process is making encouraging progress towards a political solution of the conflict, Pakistan would like to reiterate its firm commitment for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He said that we would continue to emphasize the mutually agreed fundamental principle that all bilateral issues including security and intelligence matters should be addressed through relevant bilateral forums and channels. Appropriate institutional forums are in place for such discourse in the relevant Working Groups of APPAPS. In addition, during the visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to Kabul in November 2020 the two sides also agreed on further strengthening their contacts on matters related to security and peace process.

Zahid Hafeez said we wish to highlight that public blame game is detrimental to the Afghan peace process as well as to our shared efforts for enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Pakistan has continued to emphasize that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and solution of the conflict through a political process is the only way forward. Towards this end, Pakistan has been engaged in serious efforts to facilitate an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process. During the current year, our long-held position was vindicated and Pakistan's serious efforts facilitated important breakthroughs in the peace process, including: (a) U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement of 29 February; (b) commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations on 12 September; and (c) agreement among Afghan parties on the Rules and Procedures on 2 December 2020, he added.

According to the spokesperson, as the negotiations enter an important and critical phase from 5 January 2021, the negotiators will be focusing on the substantive issues relating to a...

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