ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, United States and Afghanistan Tuesday agreed to cooperate and coordinate for Afghan-led reconciliation process to ensure peace, security and development in the region.
This was stated by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jaweed Ludin and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman while addressing a joint press conference here at Foreign Office following trilateral talks this afternoon.
'Pakistan is looking forward to engaging deeply with the United States and Afghanistan with a view to promote and achieve a shared objective of stability and peace within our respective countries and region as a whole.'
He said the representatives of three countries, Pakistan, United States and Afghanistan had in depth conversation today and agreed to work together for writing a new chapter for progress and prosperity of the people.
US Special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman said the end of Osama Bin Ladin was a big achievement for three countries as he had killed many innocent people in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States.
He said, 'It is a long term commitment of the United States to end extremism and we fully support progress and prosperity in Afghanistan and Pakistan.'
Grossman said, 'We will coordinate and cooperate with these countries and put more diplomacy behind it to make Afghanistan safer.'
He said today's talks were mainly focused on trade and economic integration and how to create more jobs. He said there is need for early implementation on Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement.
Replying to a question Grossman said the three countries have shared commitment to end violent extremism.
He said, the three countries think that killing of Osama bin Ladin was shared achievement for them as he violently acted against the democratic governments and killed civilians.
Grossman said killing of Osama bin Laden does not in any way alter US commitment to long term fight against extremism and terrorism.
Replying to question to end drone attacks in Pakistan, the US Special Representative said, 'We should consider the purpose of Pakistan-US counter terrorism cooperation.'
He said thousands of Pakistani civilians and soldiers have become victim of terrorism and the coordination with Pakistan is designed to help bring safety and security to Pakistanis and Americans around the world. This is a noble goal, he added.
On the question of intelligence sharing, Grossman said, 'We should consult, coordinate and cooperate each other to fight the menace of terrorism.'
The Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jaweed Ludin said the talks were held in a friendly environment.
He said, 'We have given a new impetus to our trilateral relations.'
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan are not only bound by history, geography and common heritage but also common friends like the United States.
He said both Pakistan and Afghanistan have a vision of peace and stability for this region but there are challenges that impede realization of this vision.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan have different mechanism for interaction and have extensive dialogue on a number of levels and in a number of fora. However, the trilateral process is very significant as it has the potential to address some of the major issues of common interest for the three countries.
Afghanistan has been centre of war against terrorism for a decade and Afghan people have aspirations for peaceful co-existence, he added.
The Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister said Afghanistan this year was closer than ever to the vision of peace and hoped that Pakistan and other friends would continue to extend cooperation for achieving this objective.
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir while replying to a question said Pakistan has been taking up the drone issue with the United States at different fora.
Regarding Abbottabad operation, he said, there is no point of getting into forensic of the operation and who did what. He said, 'Osama is now a history and we should look forward.'
He pointed out that Pakistan has had robust cooperation in counter terrorism and sacrificed immensely in this campaign, which has been number one priority.
Salman Bashir said, 'It is our determination not to allow our soil to be used by anyone for terrorism. Terrorism has no faith and religion and killing of innocent people cannot be justified by any one.'
Commenting on the statement of Indian Home Minister about terrorism issue in the context of Abbottabad incident, the Foreign Secretary said, 'This mindset of hurling accusations is neither realistic nor desirable.'
He said, 'As far as Pakistan is concerned it thinks that the dialogue process with India is moving on the right track and such statements are not helpful.'
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