No reconciliation process in Afghanistan without Pakistan: Grossman

The United States of America on Wednesday assured that it does not contemplate any reconciliation process in Afghanistan without Pakistan. This was stated by Ambassador Marc Grossman, Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan here at the PM House with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The Prime Minister said it was extremely important for Pakistan to have a sovereign, stable and prosperous Afghanistan as it was in the best interests of the country and the region. The Prime Minister said he was pleased that his idea of three D's (Dialogue, Development and Deterrence) was being realised as a way forward by the international community to achieve security and stability through economic development.
The Prime Minister also underlined the apprehensions that as in the past Pakistan may once again suffer the negative fallout of the Afghan problem. Ambassador Grossman assured that the US would not commit the same mistake of abandoning Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was working to ensure Afghanistan's connectivity in the region through the Afghanistan Pakistan Trade Agreement (APTA) that would be gradually extended to the Central Asian Republics. The Prime Minister reiterated the resolve of Pakistan and Afghan leadership to root out militancy and terrorism as both the countries had suffered the impact in terms of loss of precious lives and property besides creating instability in their countries as well as economic set-back due to insecurity.
The Prime Minster emphasised that the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan should be on the same page to deny any space to the militants to capitalise on, and was looking forward a positive outcome of the forthcoming Istanbul and Bonn conferences. He said the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Pakistan would be an opportunity for exchange of views on multiple subjects and added that positive messaging both from Washington and Islamabad was important to deny space to the militants.
Ambassador Grossman agreed with the Prime Minister on the need for the repatriation of 3.5 million Afghan refugees still on Pakistani soil. Earlier the Prime Minister called for the solution of the problem which should be an important component of the reconciliation process.
Ambassador Grossman appreciated and agreed with the Prime Minister's views about the criticality of economic development as an essential part of an Afghan-owned reconciliation process. The US delegation included US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter, US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker and Senior Military Advisor to the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Rear Admiral Philip Davidson. Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Senator Sughra Imam and other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign affairs, Interior and Defence were also present during the meeting.