Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri said here on Wednesday that Pakistan "strongly supports Afghanistan" for admission to the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) as full-fledged member.
He was addressing a press conference at the State Guest House before going to Dhaka to attend the 26th session of the Saarc Council of Minister on November 12-13, 2005, which will precede the 13th Saarc Summit.
Kasuri said that Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah of Afghanistan has written a letter to Pakistan requesting support for admission to Saarc as a member.
He said that despite hiccups, Pakistan has cordial relationship with Afghanistan. "Pakistan and Afghanistan share bonds of history, culture, traditions, values as well as common perceptions of peace, stability and harmony in our region."
He said that in his capacity as Chairman of Saarc Council of Minister, he would propose for admitting Afghanistan as a full-fledged member of the Association.
He said that certain other extra-regional countries "are also interested" in being associated with the organisation either as observers or as dialogue partners. They include China and Japan, which latter is already linked with the organisation by virtue of the Saarc-Japan fund. "We will further contact these countries to work out the modalities of their association.
He said that in view of disasters such as tsunami on December 26, 2004 and the earthquake in northern part of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir on October 8, 2005 and in view of recurrent floods Pakistan has proposed establishment of a region-wide early warning system and disaster response regime.
He said he hoped that Saarc members would agree to this proposal.
Kasuri said that the few outstanding issues in the implementation of Safta would be agreed upon during the coming meeting and it would become operational by January 2006, as envisaged by the member states.
He said that he was going to Dhaka with an open mind and a positive attitude, and would try his best to meet "this important target".
Among other points on the agenda, the Council of Ministers will also discuss regional co-operation in emerging areas of co-operation including energy, environment, tourism, regional projects and financing mechanisms. "Saarc is moving towards regional project co-operation. A shift towards project co-operation will be beneficial for the region. We believe that a project where two or more countries could benefit should be considered as Saarc activity. There will be further discussion on the subject where all aspects relating to this question will be discussed."
He said that Pakistan has proposed the setting up of 'Saarc Poverty Alleviation Fund' with a capital of $300 million, and contributions from member states could be calculated according to their share in GDP of South Asia.
The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan was also setting up a 'national committee' with representation from various ministries to implement the Saarc Social charter signed at the 12th Saarc Summit in Islamabad.
He said, "We expect that the forthcoming Saarc Summit in Dhaka will adopt a vision statement and a strategy for the Third Decade of Saarc."
The Summit is also expected to agree on signing a number of agreements to promote economic co-operation, including those on customs matters and avoidance of double taxation.
The Minister gave an overview of relief operations in the earthquake affected areas and said that more than 52 countries and 32 medical teams from all over the world had come forward on Pakistan's call to support and rehabilitate affected people.
He said that more than 86,000 people had died, over 100,000 injured and about 3.3 million were rendered homeless. So far, the international community has committed $2 billion in aid and it was for the first time in the history of Nato that it came forward with a helping hand. "Coming forward of Nato for non-Nato country's help is unique in nature," he added.
He said: "We should better look at the bright side of the picture and be thankful to all those countries that have helped us in this time of extreme urgency."
He said that the international conference convened in Islamabad on November 19, 2005 would be meaningful. "At the conference, we will share damage assessment and present details and timetable for recovery and reconstruction."
He said he looked forward to a strong commitment for financial assistance that would match the unprecedented scale of tragedy.
About opening of five travelling points to facilitate the Kashmiris living on either side of the state to travel and help their relatives in this hour of need, Kasuri said that the Indian government had its reservations. Contrary to Pakistan's proposal to provide hassle-free travelling on permission granted by the DCs or similar respective officers in whose administrative jurisdiction these points are located, the Indian officials want to adopt the procedure adopted for Muzaffarabad Bus journey.
Kasuri said it should not be taken as a problem that may affect relations between the two countries. It was only a matter of procedure and that would be solved soon, he added.
He said that he would not like to comment on Natwar Singh matter "which is under inquiry" at the moment. "I have talked to him on phone to express my good wishes to him and to know if he would come to Dhaka."
Kasuri said that probably a minister of state would come to Dhaka to attend the ministerial meeting.
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