Gilani, Karzai agree to re-engage

Monday, August 04, 2008



COLOMBO: The leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed on Sunday to “re-engage” in the fight against Islamic extremism, a joint statement said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met in Colombo on the sidelines of a Saarc summit, according to a joint statement released here. “The two sides agreed to coordinate their efforts to stop cross-border terrorism,” the statement said.

“At the suggestion of Pakistan, the Afghan side agreed to re-engage on all bilateral and multilateral forums,” it added. Karzai and Gilani had also agreed after their “cordial” breakfast meeting that their foreign ministers would meet over ways to build “close and constructive engagement” between the neighbours, the statement said.

The aim was to “build confidence and develop a common strategy at the political, military and intelligence levels in collaboration with their coalition partners and Nato/Isaf,” it said.—AFPMuhammad Saleh Zaafir adds from Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed his optimism that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif would not distance himself from the ruling coalition, as he has been a credible partner of the alliance.

The meeting between Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) would be a normal interaction among the allied leaders and it would provide them an opportunity to deliberate upon a number of subjects of national and common interests and as such there is no need to have formal agenda for the same.

“Do the allies need an agenda for their meetings?” Gilani posed a counter question when he was asked about the possible framework of the discussions. The prime minister who returned from Colombo Sunday late evening after attending 15th Saarc summit while talking to the newsmen at Chaklala Air Base expressed his satisfaction at his meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The tension would lower between both the countries as a result of the interaction with the two leaders. The prime minister who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the foreign ministers of the Saarc had prepared useful proposals for the betterment of the people of the region and the heads of the delegations adopted them.

He referred to the decisions taken by the association for energy, food safety, and alleviation of poverty in the region. He said that Pakistan proposed a number of important proposals in the conference that were appreciated by all the member countries and unanimously adopted by the summit.

To a question the prime minister said that his visit proved to be useful and he had an opportunity to meet a number of the leaders of the region. The formal and informal bilateral meetings on the margins were premium of the summit.

Talking about his meeting with his Indian counterpart Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Indians had reservations about the last monthís attack in Afghan capital where about 40 people including three Indian diplomats were killed and allegations were leveled against Pakistan.

The Indian leader referred to the Afghan government allegations but I told him that he would meet the Afghan president to ascertain the facts and if any evidence was produced he would certainly take action. “I made it clear to the Indian prime minister that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism and it is doing everything possible to eliminate the menace.”

The meeting with the Indian prime minister proved productive and candid. Talking about his meeting with Afghan president on breakfast Sunday morning Prime Minister Gilani said it took place in an extremely cordial atmosphere and the two sides explained their positions in frank manners. He cherished Afghan president’s offer that if Pakistan moves a step forward, he will be more than willing to move a thousand steps. This spirit must continue to prevail and it would be helpful greatly in sorting out the tangles.

He termed the joint statement regarding his meeting with Afghan president as a positive message. The prime minister said that Pakistan would continue to strive for peace and tranquility in the region and do whatever is possible for it to root out terrorism in the region.

He congratulated Sri Lankan leadership for holding successful Saarc Summit in peaceful manner amid fears of terrorism. He appreciated the hospitality of Sri Lankan people and government.



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