Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria has said that India’s negative attitude towards a Pakistani delegation during the Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar had ruined the atmosphere and real essence of the moot.

During the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Nafees Zakaria said that India claimed its commitment to the prospects of peace in Afghanistan at the Heart of Asia conference last week, but the country misused the platform.

“I do not say that the conference had failed. But India created negativity, which was not appreciated by any participant country,” he said.

He said that Pakistan wanted a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute.

To a question, the spokesman expressed regret over the statements of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during the Heart of Asia conference. “The basic aims of the conference were enhancing regional cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours to bring peace there, improve connectivity and tackle security threats.” He said that Pakistan’s policy was clear, that it wanted to see peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said though the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) process was underway – which had the same objective – Pakistan was ready to play its role for the purpose.

“We have allocated Rs 500 million for development, rehabilitation and education in Afghanistan. Moreover, the country is hosting more than three million Afghan refugees.”

Zakaria said that al Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Haqqani Network and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar were operating in Afghanistan, and their terrorist activities were carried out in Pakistan from the Afghan soil. He blamed India’s intelligence agencies for using Afghan soil against Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan indiscriminately takes action against all extremist groups and thousands of Pakistani civilians and servicemen had scarified their lives in the war on terror.

About America transferring F-16 technology to India, Zakaria expressed concern and said that through this act the balance of power in South Asia could be disturbed.

He said that India wanted to divert world’s attention from the human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir. “We have noted that despite unabated genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the Indian forces in IHK, the indigenous movement for self-determination remains undeterred,” he said. He said that the courage, unity and leadership of Hurriyat leaders – despite extreme hardships faced by them – was commendable and they deserved full moral, political and diplomatic support from Pakistan.

“We urge the international community to call India to account for their crimes against humanity, as the world is going to observe human rights day on December 10,” he said.

He said that Pakistan’s relations with Iran were brotherly and friendly, and its foreign minister had offered mediation between Pakistan and India, a step welcomed by Pakistan.

He said Pakistan also welcomes US vice president-elect Mike Pence’s offer for mediation between Pakistan and India. He said that Pakistan had already welcomed US president-elect Donald Trump’s offer to ease tensions in the region.

About the phone call between Trump and Nawaz Sharif, Zakaria said it was a courtesy call in which the PM felicitated him on winning the presidential election.

He said that Special Assistant of Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi was on an official trip to the United States, where he would reach out to congressmen and key officials of the outgoing administration, and establish contacts with the incoming administration, UN officials, the media and think tanks.