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Pakistan for Broad-Based Government in Afghanistan
Pakistan's Foreign Office on Monday denied a reported visit by Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister to Islamabad Sunday night and stressed its position for a broad-based government in Afghanistan.
Speaking at a press briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan said such a report is "pure and simple speculation".
To a question, Riaz said that former Afghan king Zahir Shah has sent a representative who was accompanied by two of his colleagues to Pakistan for discussions on setting up of a broad-based government in Afghanistan.
To another question concerning the forthcoming visit to Pakistan by U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell, the spokesman said that during Powell's stay here, Pakistan and the United States will have discussions on the Afghan issue, the issue of Kashmir and Pakistan-Indian relations.
Pakistan will express its point of view to address the dangerous source of tension in the region, said the spokesman.
In response to a question about the future political dispensation within Afghanistan, Riaz said that it is a consistent position of Pakistan to support a "broad-based government" which can bring peace and stability to the neighboring country, stressing that "one group will not represent the whole population of Afghanistan."
"Happening to be a neighbor of Afghanistan, we take all the interests to see peace and stability in that country," said the spokesman.
Commenting on the ongoing military strikes launched by the U.S.- led coalition against the Afghan ruling Taliban, Riaz said the Pakistani government had expressed deep sorrow and grief over the civilian casualties during the past few days and given an emphasis that "the targets should be clearly focused" to avoid loss of innocent lives.
He acknowledged that, "prolongation of the campaign will also be a source of concern for us."
The spokesman reassured Pakistan's support in the fight against terrorism "within the framework of broad commitment we have made" in the three areas, and said there will be no operation conducted from the Pakistani soil.
The spokesman said that "Taliban are not terrorists. We never regard them as terrorists."
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