Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Spokesperson of Foreign Office Nafees Zakaria has said that terrorism is a common enemy of both Pakistan and Afghanistan and effective border management is vital for preventing cross border movement of terrorists.

He expressed these views while responding to a question in a weekly media briefing here on Thursday.

Nafees Zakaria said that the enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan are taking advantage of the turmoil in Afghanistan and using its soil to orchestrate terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Pakistan is ready to work with Afghanistan on those issues in a spirit of mutual respect, trust and cooperation. He underlined the need for working together by the two countries to combat terrorism.

Responding a question he said that Pakistan is committed to peace and stability in Afghanistan and supports Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) and other roadmaps aimed at bringing peace in Afghanistan.

On Afghan government’s complains regarding refugees in Pakistan, Zakaria said that Pakistan is providing all possible support to the refugees here. He said that Pak-Afghan border will be opened after due course.

On Indian involvement in recent wave of terrorism, he said that law enforcement agencies are investigating the matter. Pakistan does not want to give knee-jerk reaction. “We do not believe in rhetoric, though Indian involvement in terrorism and terror financing in Pakistan to destabilise the country is a well-proven fact,” he added.

He said that enemy is taking advantage of the turmoil in Afghanistan and using its soil to launch terrorist attacks on Pakistan’s soil. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has issued instructions to deal with the terrorists with absolute resolve, armed forces and other law enforcement agencies’ personnel are pursuing.

He said that almost all the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) member countries have confirmed participation at high political level. ECO Summit will be held next week in Pakistan.

On India saying that house arrest of Hafiz Saeed is not enough, Zakaria said that India desired to malign Pakistan. But, actually Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism and has suffered and paid a heavy price in terms of lives and economic losses while fighting war on terror. Indian involvement in terrorism in Pakistan is well known. Confessions of Kulbhushan Yadav and Swami Aseemanand are a manifestation of that fact. India also must realise that peace in the region is in India’s own interest as well.

He said that defenseless Kashmiris in Indian-held Kashmir continue to suffer from atrocities at the hands of Indian occupation forces. They have martyred 22 innocent Kashmiris in the first two months of 2017, which is condemnable. He said that Pakistan supports Kashmiris’ indigenous movement for self-determination and will continue to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support to them till the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.