Pakistani PM opposes military solution to Afghan problem

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday opposed a military solution to the Afghan problem a day after he held an ice-breaking meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in France where they attended the UN Climate Change Conference.

Both leaders had an opportunity to discuss security issues with particular focus on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, the Pakistani foreign ministry said.

The meeting amid tensions was seen important that could help in the revival of the stalled talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

"Pakistan believes that the use of force alone may not achieve peace in Afghanistan. On the other hand, a robust and meaningful reconciliation process, if pursued seriously, has better prospects of establishing a lasting peace in Afghanistan," the prime minister said in a statement.

He said Pakistan is confident that the Afghan government and the Taliban would step forward with concrete ideas and proposals and engage in meaningful reconciliation talks, adding that Pakistan is prepared to extend its full support and assistance in promoting any such initiative.

"It was in this spirit that Pakistan engaged in sincere efforts to facilitate an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process," he said, recalling that the July 7 meeting in Murree was not only productive but also brightened the prospects for a reduction of violence in Afghanistan.

Sharif said he looks forward to the visit of President Ashraf Ghani to Islamabad, for jointly inaugurating the December 9 Heart of Asia meeting, and for discussions on the sidelines on how the two countries and the United States and China can work together to pick up the thread of the reconciliation process, from where it was left off in July.

He said Pakistan believes that the United States and China, which are associated with Murree reconciliation process, are vital partners in this process.

"We would also welcome the support of other friendly powers in this endeavor. Pakistan would, therefore, welcome a quadrilateral initiative to restart the reconciliation process. To this end, the forthcoming meeting of Heart of Asia-Istanbul process, to be held in Islamabad on Dec. 9, 2015, provides a welcome opportunity to evolve a common roadmap for result oriented reconciliation in Afghanistan."

The prime minister said it is important that both countries take steps to ensure that terrorist groups are not allowed any sanctuaries on the soil of either country, adding Pakistan has vowed to act against all terrorists. There are no good or bad terrorists.

Sharif went on to say that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used by any individual or group to commit acts of terrorism in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

"We expect the same commitment from Afghanistan and other countries," he said. Enditem