"At this defining stage when challenges have multiplied, as have the opportunities, it is our expectation that everyone, especially those in position of authority in Afghanistan, will demonstrate requisite maturity and responsibility," Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said during a weekly press briefing.
Afghan President Karzai signed a strategic partnership agreement with India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Tuesday, the first of its kind for Kabul with any country under which the Indian government will provide assistance to Afghanistan following the departure of foreign troops in 2014, which also includes imparting training to Afghan security forces by the Indian troops.
"As for the training of Afghan troops by India is concerned, the details of that Strategic Partnership document are being looked at, which includes a number of elements that we are examining at this point," Janjua said when her comments were sought on the agreement, adding in any such discussion we would like to underscore the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. "We need to continue to remain in a co-operative mode to ensure that nothing is done that affects regional stability," she said, adding Islamabad would continue to look at the agreement.
Janjua, however, said that President Karzai's visit to India was pre-scheduled and as sovereign countries, Afghanistan and India can have any kind of relationship. The spokesperson said that it has been made clear to everyone that safeguarding national interests was the primary focus of Pakistan's foreign policy, adding Pakistan was aware of the regional complexities and was trying to address them. She, however, said others also need to have an objective appreciation of regional complexities.
She said people of Pakistan have best of relations with the people of Afghanistan, which are rooted in a common history, culture and tradition and are ordained by geography. The Spokesperson told a query that Pakistan was ready to offer any kind of assistance requested by Afghanistan with regard to investigations into assassination of former Afghan president and chairman High Peace Council Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani.
She, however, said this would be based on whatever evidence provided to Pakistan. She further said that Pakistan has received some materials from Afghan government through its embassy in Kabul to what was termed as evidences regarding Rabbani's assassination. "We are examining the materials and other facts in this regard", she added.
To a question regarding Pakistan-US relations, the spokesperson said that statements emanating from Washington were indicative of the fact that the US wanted co-operative relationship with Pakistan to continue. She also informed that US Special Representative Marc Grossman would be visiting the region including Pakistan soon.
To a question pertaining to reported secret contacts of the US with the Haqqani Network, she said the media reports in this regard were obviously very complex and that needs to be taken into account. About the trilateral meeting among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US, she said the trilateral or any other meetings related to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, contacts were continued among the three sides and we will have to see what the outcome of those contacts will be.
Responding a query regarding Raymond Davis, she said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its Embassy in Washington had reminded the State Department of its assurance to undertake an enquiry into Davis. To another question, she said that Afghan Ambassador Daudzai's has held meetings with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and also in Rawalpindi, after returning his return from Kabul following assassination of Rabbani.
She said that a number of issues were discussed including bilateral relations, peace and reconciliation during the meetings. She, however, expressed ignorance about any 'specific' message given to Ambassador Daudzai about the assassination of Professor Rabbani.
She further said that Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim has had a good visit to India during which both Pakistan and India have agreed that the Commerce Secretaries will meet again in November to discuss further enhancement of trade relations between the two countries. She also expressed the hope that India's decision not to raise any further questions in the WTO will smooth the way for the early agreement on EU waiver on a specific list of goods in the WTO. She further said that the Commerce Minister during his India visit had extensive discussions with his Indian counterpart. She said that granting MFN status to India was also part of the on-going discussions.