Pakistan stresses effective Afghan transition

KABUL on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to an Afghan-led reconciliation process, as the country moves to assume full responsibility in most areas by the end of 2014. 

“As they move toward this destination, we will remain their committed and steadfast partner,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to UN Masood Khan said during a debate on the situation in Afghanistan.

“What we need most is faith in each other and a vision for common future,” he said, adding that Islamabad would do all it could to ensure stability in Afghanistan.

A statement from the Pakistan embassy in Kabul quoted Khan as saying the war-torn country would see the dawn of a new era if it successfully managed the ongoing process of political and security transition.

As the tide seemed to be turning, the ambassador said Islamabad was pleased to see positive developments on several fronts. Yet expectations must remain realistic, he cautioned.

“If there are temporary setbacks, we must stay the course,” Khan stressed, hoping that the international community’s continued engagement would be based on ground realities Kabul’s priorities.

Pakistan’s engagement was driven by the belief that the two countries had a shared destiny, the ambassador said. It was strengthening the trilateral mechanism to ensure more effective work with Afghanistan on socio-economic development matters. 

Pakistan was also setting up a joint, ministerial-level mechanism to strengthen the border between the two countries, specifically targeting illegal activities, which would decrease dramatically if interdiction measures on both sides were enhanced.

Khan said Pakistan also supported efforts of the High Peace Council to promote national reconciliation and welcomed the travel ban exemption included in the Council’s previous resolution, which had helped strengthen the process.

Khan noted the spotlight on political and security issues often eclipsed the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and called for more measures to ensure the refugees’ return strategy was implemented in a timely manner.

Pr/mud

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