Sindh to revive commissionerate system
09 July, 2011
This was stated by Ambassador Marc Grossman, Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, at the PM House in a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
The prime minister said it was an extremely important for Pakistan to have a sovereign, stable and prosperous Afghanistan as it was in best interests of the country and the region.
The prime minister said he was pleased that his idea of three D’s (Dialogue, Development and Deterrence) was being realised as a way forward by the international community to achieve security and stability through economic development.
The prime minister also underlined the apprehension that as in the past Pakistan might once again suffer negative fallout of the Afghan imbroglio.
Ambassador Grossman assured that the US would not commit the same mistake of abandoning Pakistan.
The prime minister said Pakistan was working to ensure Afghanistan’s connectivity in the region through Afghanistan Pakistan Trade Agreement (APTA) that would be gradually extended to the Central Asian republics.
The prime minister reiterated the resolve of Pakistan and Afghan leadership to root out militancy, as both countries had suffered the impact in terms of loss of precious lives and property, instability in their countries as well as economic setback due to insecurity.
Gilani emphasised that the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan should be on the same page to deny any space to militants to capitalize on. He said the countries were looking forward to a positive outcome of the forthcoming Istanbul and Bonn conferences.
He said visit by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Pakistan would be an opportunity for an exchange of views on multiple subjects, and added that positive messages both from Washington and Islamabad were important to deny space to militants.
Ambassador Grossman agreed with the prime minister on the need for the repatriation of 3.5 million Afghan refugees still living on the Pakistani soil. Ambassador Grossman appreciated and agreed with the prime minister’s views pertaining to criticality of the economic development as an essential part of an Afghan-owned reconciliation process.
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