Islamabad, Kabul to share peace strategy: FO
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan on Monday said it will share with Afghanistan the strategy it adopted in bringing peace and stability to its tribal areas.
Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri will discuss with his Afghan counterpart, measures to strengthen bilateral ties and apprise him of Pakistan’s strategy in bringing peace to the tribal areas, when he meets him in Kabul from Dec 7-9. “It is not that the Foreign Minister will tell them what to do, but will apprise him how we went about it and why it was successful,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters at the weekly briefing.
She said Pakistan will like to see peace in Afghanistan as in addition to the military operation the country requires a comprehensive strategy for reconstruction and revival of economic activity. The spokesperson said the two foreign ministers will also follow up on what transpired during the discussion between President General Pervez Musharraf and President Hamid Karzai during the Iftar-dinner hosted by President George W Bush at the White House.
“They will also discuss how to reactivate the traditional institution of jirga, to promote peace and to bring down violence in the bordering areas,” she said. When asked about Pakistan’s position on the outcome of NATO summit on Afghanistan, Ms Aslam said Pakistan has clearly articulated what it expected from the International Security Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) and now NATO.
About sending of Pakistan’s de-mining mission to Lebanon, the spokesperson said it was awaiting response from the UN peacekeeping mission. She said the offer was made under a bilateral arrangement in response to a request by the Lebanese Prime Minister and the mission will work in coordination with the United Nations.
The UN already has deployed de-mining teams and will inform us when our teams are required, she added. About the number of Pakistani prisoners in foreign jails, she said there were 36 in Sri Lankan jails, of which two were convicted on drug charges. For the rest the Mission has provided interpreters and their cases were being pursued.
Tasnim Aslam, however rejected that the release of the Briton Tahir Mirza was due to some pressure. She said his case was already under review, evident from the twice postponed death sentence. “The President exercised his right to grant pardon,” she added.
Pakistan has stressed the need for devising a comprehensive strategy for restoration of peace in Afghanistan. In her weekly press briefing on Monday, the Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam said that a comprehensive strategy was needed for maintaining tranquility in Afghanistan adding that durable peace could not be restored through military operations.
She underlined the need for exploring other ways to bring durable peace, harmony and political consensus in Afghanistan.