Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday that US was conveyed that there are spoilers within and outside Afghanistan of US-Taliban deal and there is need to keep a vigilant eye on them.
Speaking at a news conference, Quresh said that soon after the singing of deal he held a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and told him that there are spoilers of deal in and outside Afghanistan and situation warrants that everyone should not only keep a vigilant eye on them but also put in place a mechanism to identify their negative role.
He said he also underlined the need to maintain the momentum generated by the agreement with follow up step to release the prisoners, setting the next meeting at earliest because such optics would increase the confidence. Additionally, he stated he also told that Secretary of State that US have to address the uncertainties in Afghani as US can play important role and should keep this role in mind and lastly that they have to mobilize international support for post conflict reconstruction and return of refugee from Pakistan in respectable manner.
H said that signing of agreement does not mean that there would be smooth running as there would be hic up and spoilers would create problems but Pakistan thinks that international community role becomes important to foil such efforts. There is no do more demand and Pakistan has done what was in the interest of the country and not on the behest of any other country, he added in response to a question. Pakistan role was acknowledged and praised in US Taliban deal, he added
He said he also met with three foreign Ministers of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and stated that in next step engagement as to how Central Asian States and region could benefit from peace dividend and how regional connectivity could be ensured. We are planning to hold discussion on this.
The Foreign Minister added that this has been an important development because it would be a beginning of intra-Afghan dialogue as agreement created affable environment for the process. The Foreign Minister stated that he also held bilateral meeting with foreign minister of Norway to discuss future process and Norway is ready and expressed willingness to host intra Afghan dialogue.
He said that important question now is how to achieve durable peace in Afghanistan, and to make this happen the leaders of various factions are required to create peaceful environment as people of Afghanistan , in his opinion, want peace after witnessing long war, bloodshed and migration.
Qureshi said that it remains to be seen whether leaders of different factions are ready to move forward and to what extent for a peaceful Afghanistan. For stance, he said an inclusive delegation has to be formed and this would be seen how long would it take and whether it would be inclusive in reality as well as whether different factions are ready to show needed flexibility and seriousness in the coming days to honour the commitment signed in the agreement.
The Foreign Minister stated this would be seen in days ahead whether Taliban disconnect their contact with Al-Qaeda to the satisfaction of international community and that Afghan territory is not used against any country. He further stated that this would also be seen whether Afghan leadership agrees on a political road map and decision to this regard would be taken by the Afghan leaders as to what kind of Afghanistan and political dispensation they want.
He said the next meeting was with Foreign minister Norway to assure that Pakistan is committed to the Afghan led Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process. he said he also held meeting with secretary general Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to discuss as to how this forum could be used for regional integration because there are important countries in the region and last meeting was with foreign minister of Turkey to express condolence and solidarity with them over loss of their solider and to assure them Pakistan support to their legitimate concerns.
Replying to question, he said that consulate should not be used for terrorism and Pakistani hopes that Afghanistan would not allow consulate in its soil to be used for terrorism. He said that there is no harm in opening of consulates and Afghanistan has stated that it would not allow its territory to be used against any country.
He said that Kashmir issue is very serious and Pakistan wants progress and the world is witnessing that situation is deteriorating day by day and some people are expressing concern and some people are quiet for their own consideration.