Islamabad seeks Faqir’s extradition

KABUL.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar asked for the militant commander’s handover during a telephonic conversation with her Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul on Wednesday night.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office told a weekly media briefing that Islamabad hoped that all those involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan would be arrested and handed over by the Afghan government.

Moazzam Ahmed Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a dialogue process for bringing stability and prosperity to Afghanistan, voicing full support for the Afghan-led reconciliation effort.

He said the United States and Pakistan had been working to finalise modalities on safe passage for American and ISAF forces during their withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2013 and 2014.

Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari urged the US to put an end to drone attacks on its territory, characterizing the strikes as counterproductive.

At a meeting with a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee team, headed by its Chairman Senator Robert Menendez, he expressed grave concern over continued militant assaults on Pakistan Army and paramilitary troops from the Afghan side of the border.

His spokesperson Farhatullah Babar quoted Zardari as urging ISAF and Afghan security forces on the Afghan side of the border to provide “the anvil to Pakistan’s hammer operations”.

The fight against militancy and the regional situation came up for discussion, with Zardari calling terrorism a global issue and stressing international efforts to eradicate the menace.

Robert Menendez appreciated the role played by Pakistan and the sacrifices offered by its armed forces, security agencies and the people in the fight against militancy.

PAN Monitor/mud

Visits: 0