Islamabad:
Foreign Minister Ishaq DAR has expressed both Pakistan and China to deep concern about the forbidden Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) activities in Afghanistan at the recent trilateral meeting in Pakistan, China and Afghanistan in Kabul.
“We told Kabul management in clear terms: Either intervene against TTP or hand them over to Pakistan,” he said at a press conference at the Foreign Office on Friday.
According to DAR, who also serves as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, the trilateral meeting also discussed expanding China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project to Afghanistan, putting rail lines in Kabul and improving regional trade relations.
“In a bilateral meeting with the Afghan Foreign Minister, the two sides reviewed the implementation of obligations made during his visit in April. Afghan management valued Pakistan’s efforts,” he said.
On Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Pakistan, Dar said there were detailed conversations about the second phase of CPEC with ML-1 rail project and Karakoram Highway as key components. Both countries emphasized that peace and stability are important for regional development.
Foreign Minister Dar also warned that if India makes another mistake like its May strike inside Pakistan, it will receive the same reaction as before. “The Pakistani Air Force, the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani Navy have full capacity to respond,” he said.
Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day confrontation after the eastern neighbor launched missile attacks inside Pakistan in what it claimed as a retaliation for a militant attack on tourists in the Pahagam area of the Kashmir held on April 22.
On May 10, Pakistan conducted a number of strikes in various military places in India. New Delhi the same day accepted a ceasefire after the intervention of the United States.
Dar said Pakistan has highlighted national security issues and adopted a clear attitude to important regional challenges on various international forums.
He shared details of his important visit to the United States from July 21 to July 28, when Pakistan held the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
When he remembered his visit to the United Kingdom, he said he held important meetings with British Foreign Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and Kashmiri leaders.
In London, the Pakistani High Commission inaugurated Punjab Land Digitalization Project and launched a one-window operation for passport services. He also announced that Pia would start direct flights to Manchester from September, which greatly facilitates overseas Pakistanis.
Dar emphasized that during Pakistan’s Presidency of UNSC it claimed his voice strongly for Palestine both at the UN and OIC.
“For the first time in many years, a UNSC decision was adopted in support of Palestine under Pakistan’s leadership, which now served as a reference point at the Global Forums. Pakistan also took a firm attitude towards the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
During his US journey, DAR met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Unga President, Foreign Ministers in OIC Member States as well as business leaders, journalists and overseas Pakistanis. He said these interactions strengthened the position of Pakistan further.
