Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Saturday said the United States has withdrawn its objection over the release of Pakistani prisoners in Afghanistan.
Talking to reporters, Kasuri said he has discussed the issue of Pakistani prisoners with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and he assured him that Washington has withdrawn its objection.
"We have also told the Americans that freed prisoners from Guantanamo Bay will not take part in terrorist activities in future. The United States has agreed with our notion," the foreign minister said.
To a question about Afghanistan's upcoming presidential elections, the foreign minister was of the view that there is a possibility for Hamid Karzai to win the elections.
Asked if Karzai's Pakistan visit is aimed at seeking Islamabad's support for his election, the foreign minister asked how Pakistan could support elections in a foreign country. He said Pakistan wants good relations with Afghanistan. He said instability in Afghanistan could have direct implications for Pakistan.
"We are still under a huge burden of millions of Afghan refugees in our country. If there is a durable peace in Afghanistan, it will pave the way for the return of the Afghan refugees," Kasuri said.
About dialogue with India, Kasuri said he and his Indian counterpart will review the outcome of the dialogue when they meet in New Delhi on September 5.
He stressed to avoid issuing provocative statements as according to him such statements can have a negative impact on the dialogue process.
He said peoples of the two countries have attached great expectations with the dialogue process and the two governments must take the process forward.
"If we could not move in right direction, there would be no progress," he said.
He was of the opinion that there must be an acceptable time frame for the solution of Kashmir issue.
"We should keep hopes of the people alive," he said. Kasuri said the people should see progress in the bilateral talks.
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