The Foreign Office has said that Pakistan wants to have a relationship based on trust and mutual respect with the US, reminding the Trump administration that peace and stability in Afghanistan is a shared objective for both the countries. Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal said this while responding to media queries in his weekly news briefing on Thursday.
"We want to have a relationship with the US which is based on trust and mutual respect. Peace and stability in Afghanistan is a shared objective for both Pakistan and the United States," he said. He insisted that Pakistan has always extended maximum possible cooperation that could help in achieving "our shared objectives," adding that peace in Afghanistan can be secured through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process that offers incentives for all the Afghan stakeholders.
He said, "On our part, Pakistan is committed to supporting all efforts leading to a lasting peace in the region including the Afghan government's offer of peace talks made during the recent Kabul process meeting. We will continue to support all efforts to this end." Referring to the visit of Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua to the US, he said that the visit of the foreign secretary is part of the continued engagement with the US, and "is reflective of our desire to find common ground for working together with the US side and the effort to achieve our objective in Afghanistan ie peace and stability."
The meeting that the foreign secretary will be having with her American interlocutors will provide an opportunity to exchange views in this regard, he added. Commenting on the statement of the Pentagon's spokesperson, Dr Faisal said, "We take respite in the fact that Pakistan is the only country in the region to successfully check and turn the corner in its fight against terrorism by conducting indiscriminate and comprehensive counter-terrorism operations."
"Today, we can state with conviction that our law enforcing agencies continue to squeeze the space for individual militants and that there is no organized presence of terrorist groups within our territory," he added. He further said that Pakistan has welcomed and supported President Ghani's vision of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and offer of peace talks with the Taliban.
"Pakistan maintains that the only viable solution to the Afghan conflict is a peace and reconciliation process owned and led by the Afghans themselves," he said, adding, "We call upon all sides to avail this opportunity to bring an end to the sufferings of the innocent Afghan people and join peace and reconciliation process for bringing lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan."
He said that long-term stability in Afghanistan is crucial for all the neighboring countries for securing peace, security and economic development. He warned that the presence of ISIS and other terrorists groups in Afghanistan poses a threat to all the countries in the region and, therefore, is a matter of paramount importance and interest for all the concerned countries vis-a-vis Afghanistan.
To a query, he confirmed that the government has decided to reopen Ghulam Khan Crossing Point near Bannu with Afghanistan, which remained closed for sometime due to security concerns. With these efforts, he hoped that the trade between the two countries would increase and the traders of the two countries would be facilitated.
To another question regarding Indian Foreign Secretary's reported visit to Pakistan, he said that no proposal has been received from India about any such visit so far. Commenting on the reports that Iran desires to go to the Arbitration Court for seeking damages of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, he said that Pakistan and Iran enjoy close cordial and good neighborly relations, adding that the two sides are engaged on cooperation in various fields.
However, he said that Pakistan has not received any official communication regarding claims of damages on IP gas pipeline project from the Iranian side. He said that the upcoming visit of Iranian foreign minister to the country will improve the economic and trade ties between the two countries. About Pakistan's stance on Syrian crisis, particularly in Eastern Ghouta region, he said that Pakistan refrains from commenting on the internal situation of other countries.
"We support a peaceful and political solution to end the crisis and ensure security and stability in the region, including respect for the territorial integrity of Syria. We are concerned regarding the humanitarian situation and urge all sides to enable provision of humanitarian and medical assistance to the innocent men, women and children and to take urgent measures for their safety and security," he added.
He said that Pakistan supports the UNSC Resolution 2401 and hopes that all relevant parties will fully implement it. He further said that an elderly Pakistani couple required Pakistan's assistance in Eastern Ghouta has safely been repatriated to Pakistan.
Answering a question, he rejected the news reports that the Foreign Office is reluctant to provide a list of it officers having dual nationality to the Supreme Court, saying that the list has already been provided. He said that another list of the spouses and family members of the officers, as desired by the apex court, will also be submitted soon.