Karzai restates intent to engage Taliban
ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday castigated Pakistan for the presence of sanctuaries and training camps of militants within its territorial limits. At the same time, he reiterated his government’s resolve to talk with Taliban.
“There are sanctuaries and training camps in our countries. Militants are not coming from Ivory Coast, they are coming from our lands,” he said at the press conference with President Asif Zardari.
Mr Karzai has been accusing Pakistan of doing nothing against militants’ sanctuaries and training camps for several years.
At the press conference, however, the two presidents pledged to work together to eliminate terrorist hideouts.
In reply to a question about his offer of talks to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Mr Karzai said: “We have made talks offer to those Taliban who are not part of Al Qaeda and are ready to obey the Afghan constitution.”
“There are sanctuaries and training camps in our countries. Militants are not coming from Ivory Coast, they are coming from our lands,” he said at the press conference with President Asif Zardari.
Mr Karzai has been accusing Pakistan of doing nothing against militants’ sanctuaries and training camps for several years.
At the press conference, however, the two presidents pledged to work together to eliminate terrorist hideouts.
In reply to a question about his offer of talks to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Mr Karzai said: “We have made talks offer to those Taliban who are not part of Al Qaeda and are ready to obey the Afghan constitution.”
When his attention was drawn towards reports that Indian consulates in Afghanistan were being used for creating unrest in Balochistan, Mr Karzai said his government would never allow anyone to use its territory against any other country. He said he was ready to help normalise relations between Pakistan and India.
President Zardari said that strengthening and expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and among neighbouring countries, was a key to regional stability, security and economic development.
He said that during his meeting with Mr Karzai bilateral relations had reached new levels. “However, there is a need to strengthen bilateral institutional arrangements for promotion of durable and mutually beneficial cooperation in security, development, trade, economic and investment linkages, infrastructure and energy connectivity and people-to-people exchanges,” Mr Zardari said.
The one-to-one meeting between the two presidents was followed by a delegation-level meeting to discuss issues of mutual concern and explore the possibility of enhancing the existing cooperation between the two countries.
The Afghan delegation was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Zalmai Rassoul, Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak and National Security Adviser Dr Rangeen Dadfar Wardak. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Commerce Minister Amin Fahim and Interior Minister Rehman Malik represented Pakistan.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar told reporters that Mr Zardari had thanked the Afghan president for his government’s assistance in cash and kind for the flood-affected people. Afghanistan provided helicopters, food and medicines and sent medical teams. Mr Zardari said that Afghan gesture of helping those in need indicated strong bonds between the people of the two countries.
“We believe that military operations alone cannot restore and guarantee peace and stability and the international community should follow a holistic approach combining military, political and developmental tracks,” he said.
“A viable reconciliation is vital for durable and long-term peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan is supportive of an Afghan-led and inclusive political reconciliation process,” Mr Zardari said.
REGIONAL SECURITY:
The two countries underlined the need for concerted and coordinated efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism from their soils.
Pakistan suggested initiation of a bilateral security dialogue for close coordination between security agencies of the two countries.
The meeting decided that security, counter-terrorism, economic, trade and investment, infrastructure development and connectivity and energy should be top priority areas to enhance mutual cooperation.
Welcoming the conclusion of negotiations on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement in July this year, the Pakistani side called for its early implementation for the benefit of the two countries.
Later, President Zardari hosted a dinner for Mr Karzai and his delegation.
Pakistan suggested initiation of a bilateral security dialogue for close coordination between security agencies of the two countries.
The meeting decided that security, counter-terrorism, economic, trade and investment, infrastructure development and connectivity and energy should be top priority areas to enhance mutual cooperation.
Welcoming the conclusion of negotiations on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement in July this year, the Pakistani side called for its early implementation for the benefit of the two countries.
Later, President Zardari hosted a dinner for Mr Karzai and his delegation.
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