Sharif promises neutrality in Afghanistan

KABUL’s parliamentary elections, Mian Nawaz Sharif on Sunday promised efforts at improving Islamabad-Kabul relations.

In recent weeks, ties between the neighbours came under increasing strain as a result of testy exchanges over the Afghan-led peace drive and border skirmishes.

But Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-N chief and former prime minister, pledged his administration would focus on pursuing a cooperative relationship with Afghanistan.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he acknowledged Pakistan needed good relations with Afghanistan. “We will be supporting it as a whole. We have no intention to take sides there.”
Asked about unpopular American drone strikes in Pakistan’s restive tribal belt near the Afghanistan border, the PML-N leader hoped he would reach a settlement with the US.

PAN Monitor/mud

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