ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint towards Afghan allegations on different occasions, Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said on Thursday.
Addressing the weekly news briefing in Islamabad, the spokesman said: “We will continue to do that in future as well as we are sincere in seeking a peaceful settlement of the Afghan issue.”
Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan wanted positive engagement with Afghanistan for peace, security and stability in the region and expressed the hope that both countries would engage on an agenda beneficial for the region.
Regarding the visit of Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz to Kabul, the spokesperson said this was the first ever high level exchange between the two countries since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took office.
He said Aziz held meetings with the Afghan leadership in a cordial environment and handed over an invitation letter of Prime Minister Sharif to Afghan President Hamid Karzai to visit Pakistan.
The spokesman said Karzai has accepted the invitation and dates are now being worked out.
The two governments are constantly engaged in making that visit possible.
Chaudhry added that the political office of the Afghan Taliban in Doha, which was shut to protest demands they remove a sign that identified the movement as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, would soon reopen.
On drone attacks, Chaudhry said: “Our policy on drone attacks is very clear and the new government has laid a great deal of emphasis on registering its viewpoint on drone attacks with the United States and the world at large.”
He maintained that drone attacks were counter-productive and in violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
The spokesman said the strikes were not serving any objective and instead carried humanitarian consequences.
He said this very viewpoint of Pakistan was being conveyed to the United States on all fora.
Replying to a question on Pakistan-India relations, the spokesman said Pakistan had already expressed its concern on the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, especially following the episode of the desecration of the Holy Quran.
He said the Kashmiris’ movement for their right of self-determination was indigenous and could not be stopped by force.
About the proposed visit of United States Secretary of State John Kerry to Pakistan, the spokesman said dates for his visit were being finalised and due to scheduling problem, they had not yet been fixed.
Rejecting the notion of “restrained” relations with United States, the spokesman said Pakistan has been engaged on various levels with America.
He said both countries have agreed on many issues.
On the issue of exchange of Dr Aafia Siddiqui with Dr Shakeel Afridi, the spokesman said Pakistan and United States have no such prisoner exchange agreement.