Afghan free to take its decisions: Pakistan

Murree: Minister for States and Frontier Regions Shehryar Afridi Sunday said that Afghanistan is an independent country and its leadership may take all decisions without any external intervention.

Addressing the concluding session of the day-long conference on Afghan Peace Process, in Bhurban Murree, he said Pakistan’s civil and military leadership is united for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace dialogue as peaceful Afghanistan is interlinked to peace in the region and beyond.

The Minister said though Pakistan suffered heavily due to terrorism, weaponization, drugs mafia and other ills it never turned its back on Afghan Refugees.

Speaking at the conference, various political and politico-religious stalwarts from Afghanistan have pledged to give peace a chance in their war-torn country.

Chief of Hizbe Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, brother of late leader of Northren Alliance Ahmed Shah Massoud Ahmed Wali, Hizbe Islami leader Wahid Ullah Sabhun, Hanif Atmar and leader of Hizbe Wahdat Mardam Afghanistan Ustad Muhmmad Muhaqiq were of the view that reconciliation is the only option to come over the feuds.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said we want peace at all costs in Afghanistan.

Wahidullah Sabhun acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan and lauded its efforts to help forge peace in the region.

Hanif Atmar appreciated Pakistan for accepting the sovereignty and integrity of Afghanistan as an independent state.

In his speech at the inaugural session of the Afghan peace conference title “Lahore Process” in Bhurban Murree ,Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reiterated Pakistan’s unshakable resolve to support lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan, besides lending support to the reconstruction and development efforts in the war-torn country.

He maintained that Pakistan stood for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and remained fully committed to a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan.

The Minister said we are determined to build our bilateral relationship on the principles of non-interference, mutual respect and common interest.

A number of prominent Afghan leadership including Afghan High Peace Council chairman Karim Khalili, Gulbuddin Hikmatyar, Ustad Atta Noor and others were attending the conference.