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Pakistan proposes four-point formula for peace in Afghanistan
Pakistan proposed a four-point formula on Wednesday for political reconciliation in Afghanistan, responding to Norways initiative to bring peace and stability in the war-torn country. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, briefed visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store on the steps Pakistan had taken to bring peace in Afghanistan, and proposed the four-point formula to settle the issue. The formula proposed that Karzai broaden his base instead of confining his government to Kabul, all Pashtuns not be considered Taliban, dialogue be held with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar if not with Mulla Omer, and eight countries Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the US and Russia be involved in dialogue to reach a peaceful solution to problems in Afghanistan Mushahid told the Norwegian foreign minister that Washington, London and Kabul were pursuing wrong policies in Afghanistan, and Pakistan should not be blamed for the situation there. He said the Afghan government should stop blaming Pakistan for the unrest, and called for dialogue to resolve the issue. The Norwegian foreign minister endorsed Pakistans viewpoint that the use of military force was no the solution to problems in Afghanistan. He said he was visiting Pakistan and other regional countries to assess the situation in Afghanistan because 550 Norwegian troops were there as part of the International Security Assistance Force. He backed peace agreements in North Waziristan and Helmand province when Mushahid told him that the Waziristan accord had provided room for development. The Norwegian minister said the blame game should be stopped. He hoped that NATO and EU would jointly bring peace to Afghanistan, and said that there was lack of coordination between NATO and the US in Afghanistan. He said his country wanted to strengthen investment ties with Pakistan. We want to assist Pakistan in health, especially child immunisation, he added. Pakistan and Norway also agreed to strengthen their political, economic and trade relations. Mushahid told the Norwegian team that Al Qaeda leaders Osama Bin Laden and Aiman Al-Zawahri were in Afghanistan. Posted by: Fred 2006-12-14 |
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