‘Afghan role for India not in region’s interest’

islamabad — India’s controversial role in Afghanistan is not in the interest of regional stability and not acceptable to Pakistan.

During the weekly Press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria here said Indian role in Afghan conflict can endanger regional stability, Pakistan takes this issue very seriously and has raised it at several international fora.

He said Pakistan has also taken up this issue at a high-level US delegation visiting Pakistan. The visit was a follow-up to the meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and US Vice-President Mike Pence in Washington.

“We have provided proofs of Indian interference in Afghanistan”, Zakaria added.

He said that both sides have agreed to remain engaged in regional cooperation at all levels especially with regard to terrorism. “The US delegation has also been briefed on human rights violations in Indianadministered Kashmir during the meeting,” he added.

Zakaria said the essence of the meeting with US delegation was to focus on finding a solution to terrorism and Afghan conflict.

Replying to a query he said, Pakistan has always been ready to participate in any initiative aimed at finding settlement of Afghan issue. “We have to move forward, Pakistan has always supported all the initiatives including Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG).”

Zakaria said Pakistan wants an ‘Afghan-led’ solution to the issue.

He said that Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua also visited Russia to lead the Pakistan delegation to the meeting of Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) Contact Group on Afghanistan. She also held bilateral meetings with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and Russian President’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Zamir Kabulov.

Replying to a question about India hosting the 14th EU-India summit last week, he said being a custodian of human rights, European Union should take a clear stance on Indian atrocities in Indian-controlled Kashmir. — APP