ISLAMABAD: Terming “positive” the recent Doha talks between Afghans andTaliban, the Foreign Office Thursday said Pakistan was receiving ‘wideacknowledgment and appreciation’ from the stakeholders for its facilitatoryrole to help continue the peace process.
“Our efforts to facilitate the concerned groups to continue negotiationsfor an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution to the conflict, are gettingrecognition,” Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal said at a weeklypress briefing.
The two-day peace talks attended by representatives of Afghan governmentand Taliban in Doha, Qatar, on July 8-9 concluded with both sides callingto end civilian casualties and pledging to guarantee protection of publicinstitutions.
Ahead of Doha talks, the Afghan leaders had earlier met in Pakistan’sBhurban hill town in June, which was followed by the visit of PresidentAshraf Ghani to Islamabad.
The FO spokesman, however, clarified that Pakistan’s role was purely meantto facilitate the process.
“We repeat, we are playing a facilitatory role and would continue to dothat. Our position is nothing more than a politically negotiatedintra-Afghan solution to the conflict,” he said.
He said Pakistan would continue its policy to support international effortsmeant for a durable and sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
On upcoming meeting between Pakistan and India on Kartarpur Corridor onJuly 14, the FO spokesman said the delegations would negotiate theagreement from around 9 am to 1 pm at the Wagah Border.
He refused to share further details, saying “Pakistan would honour thesanctity of the agreement not to reveal information to media before time”.However, he said a press conference would be held after the meeting for anupdate for public consumption.
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On verdict of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav due to be announced byInternational Court of Justice on July 17, the spokesman said “Pakistan washoping for the best”, however could not pre-judge the decision since thematter was sub judice.
He said Pakistan presented its stance in a best possible manner through afully-prepared team including the Counsel, the Attorney General and otherofficials at the February’s oral hearings at ICJ .
On recent tension between the United States and Iran viz-a-viz nucleardeal, he said Pakistan desired all members of the Joint Comprehensive Planof Action (JCPOA) to negotiate the issue through dialogue.
The spokesman appreciated the recently launched second report of Office ofthe United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that documented theatrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK).
However, he stressed that there was no parallel of IoK with Azad Kashmirand Gilgit Baltistan, as the latter two were open for foreign visitors.
The spokesman confirmed that Pakistan’s High Commissioner-designate toIndia had received Agreema and would join his duties in near future.
