*Pakistan has ruled out the possibility of providing its military bases tothe United States, for any future counterterrorism operations inAfghanistan.*

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi remarked to reporters, explainingthat the government has adopted a policy that allows it to become the “onlypartners in peace”, and to not join any future war-efforts.

“No sir, we do not intend to allow boots on the ground and no [U.S.] basesare being transferred to Pakistan”, the Foreign Minister added when askedif his government is under pressure to give military bases to the UnitedStates.

The Biden Administration has been in talks with several Central Asiancountries to reposition its troops, to prevent the landlocked Afghanistanfrom becoming a base for terrorist groups.

However, U.S officials have yet to name Pakistan in this strategy, despitethe fact that it shares a 2600km border with Afghanistan.

Qureshi noted that the Taliban’s engagement in the Afghan peace processwould enhance the “international respectability and recognition” that thegroup required, in an effort to encourage them to stop their violentcampaign and negotiate a political settlement with their Afghancounterparts.

“If they want to be acceptable, if they want delisting to take place, ifthey want recognition then engagement, giving up violence and looking for apolitical solution is in their political interest,” he said.

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