Summary PM's Advisor Sartaj Aziz addressed Heart of Asia Conference in Amritsar, India.
AMRITSAR (Dunya News / Web Desk) - Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said on Sunday that despite of India’s aggressive behaviour on Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, Pakistan is attending the conference.
Addressing Heart of Asia Conference in Amritsar, Aziz said that instead of leveling allegations concentration should be on positive actions.
“My participation in the event, despite escalation on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary with India, is testimony to Pakistan’s unflinching commitment for lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region. I look forward to meaningful deliberations today towards this objective,” he said.
“The postponement of the SAARC Summit scheduled in Islamabad in November 2016 was a setback to these efforts and undermined the spirit of regional cooperation,” he added.
He said that peaceful resolution to all the longstanding issues is the only way forward for regional cooperation and connectivity.
He stressed the need for evolving a joint and purposeful strategy for lasting peace in Afghanistan.
Sartaj Aziz urged that Afghanistan should avoid leveling false and baseless accusations on Pakistan.
“The security situation in Afghanistan is very complex. It is simplistic to blame only one country for the recent upsurge in violence. We need to have an objective and holistic view,”
The Adviser said Pakistan is ready to extend every kind of cooperation for lasting peace in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan has played a significant role in establishing peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and will continue to do so in the future,” he affirmed.
Commenting on the peace efforts between Afghan government and Taliban, he said, “Pakistan has been making serious efforts for facilitating the peace talks through the QCG. We believe that all members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) should continue their respective efforts for talks between Afghan government and Taliban. In our view, there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and all our efforts should be to achieve a politically negotiated settlement through an Afghan-led Afghan-owned process.”
He said Pakistan had laid down the foundations of Heart of Asia Conference with the collaboration of Turkey some six years ago.
Sartaj Aziz also talked about the infrastructure plans and projects in future.
“Pakistan is building its national rail & energy transmission network to meet with growing regional transport needs,” he explained.
“Focus is on modern, state of the art infrastructure including through China Pakistan Economic Corridor,” he said.
Earlier, Sartaj Aziz held a meeting with Indian Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
During the meeting, matters pertaining to bilateral interest came under discussion.
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the Conference.
Matters pertaining to durable peace and stability in Afghanistan were discussed during the meeting.
