Pakistan has not imposed any pre-conditions

(2013-03-29)

In response to a query regarding a statement attributed to the Spokesman of the President of Afghanistan that Pakistan has imposed “pre-conditions” for the peace process, the Spokesperson said that Pakistan has not laid down any pre-conditions for the peace process. Pakistan is wholeheartedly supporting and facilitating the peace process without any conditions or preference for any particular group or party.

The Spokesperson said that the proposal for a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between Pakistan and Afghanistan had emanated from President Karzai himself. The Government of Pakistan had welcomed the proposal.

The Spokesperson said that Pakistan did not demand that Afghanistan should “cut all ties to India”. Pakistan has no objection or issue with Afghanistan developing relations with any country. We have only stressed that those external forces which are using the soil of Afghanistan to destabilize Pakistan should be discouraged.

On sending Afghan army officers to Pakistan for training, the Spokesperson said that this was an offer made by the government of Pakistan in goodwill to contribute to the training needs of the security forces of Afghanistan. This was not a pre-condition but an offer in goodwill.

The Spokesperson added that Pakistan remains fully committed to facilitating peace, reconciliation and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s offers of goodwill should not be construed as pre-conditions, the Spokesperson emphasized.

Islamabad
March 29, 2013

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