Turkey Thursday forcefully supported a broad-based, multi-ethnic government in Afghanistan and a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people and the international law.
“It is our wish and hope to see that peace and stability is established in Afghanistan with a broad-based administration where all ethnic groups are represented,” Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer told a press conference Thursday.
Sezer, who arrived on a two-day visit to Pakistan Thursday, said that the highly principled and determined approach that Pakistan had adopted against terrorism is greatly appreciated by the international community.
“The resolution of the Kashmir issue should be based on the choice of the people and on international law and it should be through negotiations and dialogue,” Sezer, who will also visit Lahore on Friday, said adding “It (Kashmir) affects relationships between Pakistan and India.”
President General Pervez Musharraf said that there were three strategies which should work hand in glove: military; political; and rehabilitation.
To another question President Musharraf said that when a political arrangement was placed on ground in Afghanistan, only then it could be decided what kind of force requirement under the United Nations umbrella were required to be executed in Afghanistan.
“Then (we’ll) see how much can be contributed by various Muslim countries in Afghanistan,” Musharraf said while answering a question whether Pakistan would contribute its troops in a future UN peace keeping force.
Both the leaders also held one-on-one talks which were followed by a formal session between the two countries. Pakistan and Turkey agreed on all issues and also decided to enhance economic cooperation. “Discussions took place on a wide-range of issues and a complete identity of views was witnessed from the two sides,” he said.
“We agreed on the need for having a broad-based and freely chosen government in Afghanistan, with Zahir Shah and representation of Afghan ‘tanzeemat’, moderate Taliban, Northern Alliance, Afghans living outside. “All can and must play a sincere role with regard to evolving a political dispensation, acceptable to the Afghans.”
“We agreed to work together in all fields of our bilateral relations,” Musharraf said.
While condemning September 11 attacks, Musharraf said, these were alien to Islam, which preached peace, tolerance and understanding. He said Afghan people had been suffering for the last two decades and it was time a lasting solution was found out in accordance with the wishes of the Afghan people. |
