Pak, US Agree on Broad-Based Future Afghan GovernmentPakistan and the United States agreed on Tuesday that the future Afghan government should be formed broad-based and multi-ethnic and must be friendly to all its neighbors."There is no doubt that we both have a common goal to see that the Afghan government is one that will represent all the people of Afghanistan and a regime that obviously will be friendly to all its neighbors including Pakistan," visiting U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said here Tuesday after talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. The secretary stressed that all elements must be included in the discussion of the future of Afghanistan, including the anti- Taliban Northern Alliance and "southern tribal leaders". Addressing a joint press conference, Musharraf said he and Powell had agreed that durable peace in Afghanistan was only possible through "broad-based, multi-ethnic government" established without outside interference. The president said all the factors, including former King Zahir Shah, political leaders, moderate Taliban leaders, elements from the Northern Alliance, tribal elders, Afghans living outside their country, could play a role in the future Afghan government. Musharraf reiterated his support for the U.S.-led anti-terror military actions, saying Pakistan hopes the on-going military strikes on Afghanistan to be "short and targeted". He said the current campaign had to address the root causes of terrorism which lay in "political oppression and the denial of justice". Powell appreciated the position Pakistan had taken in the international action against terrorism. He said the relations between Pakistan and the United States have been improved during the current crisis over Afghanistan. On the issue of Kashmir, Powell said Kashmir issue is "central" to the relationship between India and Pakistan and it should be solved by all parties concerned in a "mutual acceptable way", both politically and diplomatically. It has been Pakistan's consistent view that Kashmir is the core " issue in the bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan. Powell arrived in Pakistan on Monday to discuss the current regional affairs with the Pakistani leaders. |
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