ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will continue to play its responsible role for peace establishment in Afghanistan just like it did in past by positively supporting the Afghan peace process, the military high command told the lawmakers during a session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS).
The National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser chaired an in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security today (Thursday) which was attended by the parliamentarians, chief ministers, army chief, DG ISI and some lawmakers who were specially invited.
Among government representatives, Minister for Interior Shaikh Rasheed, Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and Leader of the House in the Senate Dr Shahzad Waseem are in attendance.
Opposition leaders, who are in attendance include the Shehbaz Sharif, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F Parliamentary leader Maulana Asad Mahmood, ANP leader Ameer Haider Azam Khan Hoti, and MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
The PCNS session held discussions over the status of bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States (US), Pakistan-China relations internal and external matters, national security and the regional developments including the Kashmir dispute and Afghanistan’s situation.
The meeting was told that Pakistan had honestly played a very positive and responsible role in the Afghan peace process. “Due to Pakistan’s efforts, not only was the path paved for talks between different Afghan factions and warring groups, but meaningful dialogue between the United States and Taliban was also started,” the lawmakers were told.
“We believe in the fact that lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan will actually result in stability in South Asia,” the ministry’s press release added. The meeting was told that Pakistan will continue to play its role for the Afghan peace process.
“Pakistan’s land is not being used in the conflict going on in Afghanistan and the hope was expressed that Afghanistan’s soil will also not be used against Pakistan,” the statement added.
According to the handout, political leaders “expressed satisfaction” at the briefing and conveyed wishes for peace, progress and prosperity in Afghanistan.
