Pak, NATO to reinforce military, political ties

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Islamabad, May 8: Pakistan and NATO have agreed to further reinforce their political dialogue to build an enduring cooperative relationship in all fields including defence.

This was stated by Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and visiting Secretary-General of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer following their talks in Islamabad today.

The two sides agreed that reconstruction and development and not a military solution was the key to a lasting peace in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister said their wide ranging talks included exchange of views on Afghanistan where they have a shared interest in promoting stability and development.

Mr Kasuri said he shared with the NATO Secretary General, Pakistan's social, religious, ethnic and economic linkages with Afghanistan that add to its interest in peace, stability and development of that country.

He underlined that Pakistan had done more to enhance stability in the bordering regions than anybody else. Pakistan has deployed twice as many troops and suffered thrice as many casualties as the ISAF forces in Afghanistan .

Mr Kasuri emphasised that the onus for border control cannot be placed on Pakistan alone. Pakistan expects matching response from Afghanistan, as each side must play its due role to combat the menace of terrorism.

The NATO Secretary General said not only Pakistan but the entire world community has stakes in peace and stability of Afghanistan.

''It is, therefore, not just responsibility of Pakistan to contribute towards that end but also that of other members of the international community,'' he said.

He emphatically stated that final answer to Afghan question is not military but reconstruction, development and nation building.

He also agreed that the Afghan Government should concentrate on institution building and fighting crime and corruption to strengthen security and stability in that country.

He spoke high of the understanding reached at the Ankara meeting between President Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart last month and said there was a need to invest more on both sides of the border to improve surveillance.

He said NATO forces are in Afghanistan to ensure enabling atmosphere for reconstruction and development. He said NATO forces would remain there in foreseeable future as ''reconstruction is a long term process''.


UNI

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