| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 15, 2001 |
Pakistan Condemns Atrocities in Kabul |
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Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Khan reacted strongly Wednesday to reports about the atrocities by the Northern Alliance and condemned them. "We condemn these killings and strongly feel that innocent lives need to be protected. This is all the more reason that for security there should be a multinational force inside Kabul and this city should be demilitarised. Pakistan will talk to all coalition partners," he said.
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Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Khan reacted strongly Wednesday to reports about the atrocities by the Northern Alliance and condemned them. "We condemn these killings and strongly feel that innocent lives need to be protected. This is all the more reason that for security there should be a multinational force inside Kabul and this city should be demilitarised. Pakistan will talk to all coalition partners," he said.
But there was little Islamabad could do about the fate of Pakistanis who have been captured by the Northern Alliance and hundreds who were killed in Mazar-i-Sharif. "We have seen these reports but are not sure whether these people are Pakistanis. We hope the UN human rights organisation takes action and we will certainly take it up with the UN. Earlier we had made every effort not to allow anyone crossing over and since we have no presence in Kabul with not even any counsellor presence it is difficult to verify whether these are Pakistanis," Khan said.
However, Islamabad at this stage has had no direct contacts with the Northern Alliance since they took over Kabul but says that they expected that some bloodshed would take place. Khan said for the time being the Afghan embassy is still open and Pakistan has not recognised any new Afghan government. He avoided answering queries about Pakistan's policy if Mulla Omar, and other Taliban leaders wanted to come to Pakistan.
About reported attack on Pakistan's embassy in Kabul by Northern Alliance forces, the spokesman said we have heard these reports and we are trying to confirm them. To a question, if the Afghan ambassador has left Pakistan, the spokesman said: "I think the ambassador has left for Kandahar for some consultations."
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