Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday reiterated that US President Donald Trump’s troop increase and support to Afghanistan would end in failure, and urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to agree to peace talks.

“We have assured them of whatever assistance we would be able to offer, but things are quite fragmented on that side,” he said during an interview in Islamabad with Bloomberg News, a New York-based international news agency. “Pakistan has tried twice, but the talks have been sabotaged.”

Abbasi brushed aside US accusations that Pakistan provides sanctuary to militant groups, saying that attacks in the region were originating from Afghanistan. He said Pakistan would act against terrorists found within its borders, including the Haqqani network.

“We have asked them to share any intelligence about the Haqqani network, we will take action,” Abbasi said, referring to the US. The prime minister said the attacks however were being made from across the border. “We have pinpointed even the sanctuaries of the attackers. Cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan is the order of the day,” he said.

“There is no room for them to take a tough stance here, because Pakistan is the country which is fighting the war on terror,” he said. “Somebody gives us intelligence and we will act upon it. It is our war, not theirs.”

When asked if Pakistan would move against Taliban leaders who have allegedly lived for years in Quetta, Abbasi said, “We will act against them if they really exist.” When his attention was drawn to the court-ordered release of Hafiz Saeed, Abbasi said, “The court, a three-judge bench, has released him saying there are no charges against him. The country has a law you know.”

“Prosecute him internationally if there is substance to these charges, these are accusations only. No evidence has been provided by India,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abassi, who is visiting Sochi, Russia, to participate in the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, met the premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang.

The prime minister congratulated the Chinese premier on the success of 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China and his reelection on the political bureau as well as of President Xi Jinping as party general secretary. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s traditional strong support to China on its core issues, including ‘One China Policy’.

The prime minister appreciated the active work being undertaken by the SCO under the Chinese chairmanship and assured Pakistan’s complete support in fulfilling the targets set forth by China in political, security, economic and cultural realms during its presidency.

The Chinese premier reiterated full commitment to the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. He stated that Pakistan’s membership of SCO would further contribute to the regional peace, security, stability and development.

Premier Li expressed happiness over the finalisation of Long-Term Plan of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during the recently held 7th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee in Islamabad.

The two sides expressed satisfaction on the overall level of engagement and agreed to continue close cooperation both within SCO and at the bilateral level in all areas particularly political, economic and trade, defense and strategic and multilateral and United Nations matters. The leaders acknowledged that Pakistan-China partnership is an anchor of strength for regional and global peace and stability. They underscored continued support to each other on all issues of mutual interest.

Separately, Abbasi held a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

The prime minister conveyed greetings from the people of Pakistan. Both the leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and agreed to further deepen cooperation in all fields of mutual interest.

Published in Daily Times, December 1^st 2017.