By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has no objection to India and Afghanistan developing cordial relations, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, clarifying that Islamabad was not focusing on any one particular group in Afghanistan.In a statement issued on the current situation in Afghanistan Monday, the foreign minister said the Indian media made a fuss over his ‘visit’ to Kabul and reported “irresponsibly” on it.He called out the Indian media for not confirming facts before reporting on anything. “I did not go to Kabul, but held important meetings on Afghanistan in Pakistan,” Qureshi clarified.The foreign minister said he had a discussion with the EU foreign policy chief Sunday, in which he was briefed over Pakistan’s assistance in Kabul.
In addition to this, the FM said he will visit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and has already spoken to China on the matter. “Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic country. There are Pashtuns and people of other ethnicities there. The government that has emerged in Afghanistan should be one that is broad-based and inclusive,” he emphasised.
He further said that Pakistan and the neighbouring countries of the region want peace and stability in Afghanistan but anti-peace forces and “spoilers” are still active in Afghanistan.”India has to give up its shallow thinking. We do not object to India’s good relations with Afghanistan. Our focus in Afghanistan is not on a single group,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Qureshi Monday had a telephonic conversation with Saudi Arabia’s counterpart, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, to discuss the ongoing Afghanistan situation in the aftermath of a Taliban takeover.
During a telephonic conversation, the two foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations, the ongoing Afghanistan issue, and other matters of mutual interest.
“A peaceful Afghanistan will not only benefit Pakistan but the entire region,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi said and hoped that the Afghan leadership would move towards a political solution to the issue.
He also stressed the need for the international community to play its role in rebuilding war-torn Afghanistan. Qureshi also apprised Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan regarding support being provided by Pakistan in the evacuation of foreigners from the neighbouring country. The two sides expressed their satisfaction over the relationship between the two brotherly countries and decided to continue consultations on matters of mutual interest.
