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Pakistan reiterates firm stance on fight against terrorism

Xinhua, April 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Pakistan on Tuesday reiterated that it has been making serious efforts for peace in Afghanistan, but it is not solely responsible to bring the Afghan Taliban to negotiations.

The Foreign Ministry's comments came a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's told the parliament that Pakistan had promised to encourage the Taliban to join the reconciliation process and that action will be taken against those who reject peace process.

"Pakistan condemns all forms and manifestation of terrorism and it is committed in the fight against this menace," Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.

"Pakistan itself is the biggest victim of terrorism in which thousands of our security personnel have sacrificed their lives," he said in a statement in Islamabad.

"Pakistan is making serious efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan as peace in the neighboring country is in the interest of Pakistan," said the spokesperson.

However, "Pakistan alone is not responsible for bringing the Taliban back to the table," he said.

The spokesperson said the Quadrilateral Coordination Group(QCG) of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the United States, was constituted to achieve the objective of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Taliban last month rejected invitation by the QCG to take part in negotiations with the Afghan government.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have exchanged statements amid reports that a delegation of the Qatar-based Afghan Taliban political negotiators have arrived in Islamabad for "exploratory" talks with Pakistani officials.

Afghan diplomatic sources said no meeting between the Taliban and the Afghan government is planned.

U.S. Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Jonathan Carpenter, has also arrived in Islamabad, diplomatic sources said. It is unclear whether the arrival of Carpenter is linked to the presence of the Taliban delegation in Pakistan. Enditem