KABUL - Pakistan has reaffirmed support for an upcoming meeting involving regional countries on Afghanistan’s future in Moscow, saying such consultations are in line with its policy.
Moscow will host on April 14 the meeting, to be attended by representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Russia. The US, which was also invited to the gathering, has refused to attend.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office told reporters in Islamabad on Thursday Pakistan always backed “constructive engagement at all forums relating to Afghan peace”.
Nafis Zakaria, however, noted the quadrilateral process involving the US, Pakistan, China and Afghanistan remained an effective forum. But the Quadrilateral Coordination Group members have not met for a year.
He hastened to stress the importance of bilateral contacts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, recalling a recent meeting in London that helped reopen border crossings earlier in the month.
The spokesman said: “The London meeting between Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz and National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar underscored the importance of a bilateral cooperation mechanism to address counterterrorism and border management issues in an amicable manner.”
With regard to the fencing of the border, he said: “We need to take necessary measures to check terrorism as it is affecting people of both countries. For this to happen, effective border control management is imperative. (Pajhwok)