Pakistan to raise Obama's Contact Group issue during Holbrooke's visit

Washington, Apr.5 (ANI): Pakistan is concerned with the US President Barack Obama's idea of forming new contact group including India on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has said that it will raise the issue during the US Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke's forthcoming visit to the country.

"We will talk to our American interlocutors. Holbrooke will be in Pakistan soon. We intend to talk to him about the idea of a contact group," The Daily Times quoted Pakistan's Ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani, as saying.

Haqqani said bilateral talks and smaller groups of countries were more effective in tackling any issue rather than a group involving several nations.

"We have seen in the past, when many countries try to solve the problem of a third country, sometimes, it can also lead to logjam. So, it is often much better to deal with things bilaterally, in smaller groups," Haqqani added.

He stressed that Islamabad is aware of its responsibilities in the fight against the rising extremism in the region.

Haqqani said that Pakistan recognizes the 'War on Terrror' as it own fight and not just as a favour to the United States.

"Fighting terrorism is a global cause. Pakistan is a partner of the United States, NATO and all its neighbours in fighting terrorism for our own sake, not for somebody else," he said. (ANI)

Haqqani also admitted that Pakistan could not afford to allow the extremist groups to expand its territory inside its geographical boundary.(ANI)