AGENCIES

LONDON PRIME Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday urged the international community to devise a clear roadmap on Afghanistan to ensure peace and stability in the region and in the world at large.

At a meeting with Mark Philip Sedwill, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Prime Minister Gilani expressed hoped that the time before the Bonn Conference would be utilised to the maximum to draw a strategy that ensures a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan after a possible withdrawal of the ISAF forces in 2014.

He said Pakistan’s policy on Afghanistan was very clear and that Pakistan wanted a “stable, peaceful and prosperous” Afghanistan through a smooth transition.

Gilani said Pakistan believed in a policy of noninterference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs and was convinced that peace there was vital for regional stability.

He said Pakistan was trying to fight the menace of terrorism despite heavy odds but needed international support to sustain its commitment.

Gilani said a two-tier joint commission on reconciliation had been set up by Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The first tier of the commission led by the chief executives of the two countries was held in Islamabad, while the first meeting of the Joint Commission’s second tier level was held in Kabul on June 29 this year.

He further said that Pakistan had been working with the Afghan leadership to promote reconciliation through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

He expressed confidence that the appointment of Mark Sedwill as UK’s special representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan would be helpful in promoting peace in the region due to his knowledge and understanding of both the countries.

Mark Sedwill apprised Gilani about the working of his office regarding matters relating to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said efforts would be made by the international community to focus on stability and peace in Afghanistan in the post 2014 scenario as the region could not afford Afghanistan plunging into chaos again.

Meanwhile, Gilani has urged increased trade and market access for Pakistani products in European markets, it was reported in London.

Gilani on Tuesday discussed bilateral issues with British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Gilani, who reached London on Monday, said Pakistan-Britain multidimensional cooperation in various areas, especially in the socioeconomic realm, was vital to create new opportunities, development and promote peace and security in the region, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

The prime minister said Pakistan looked forward to the early convening of the third Pakistan-EU Summit and to work towards achieving the common objective of strengthening democracy, economic prosperity and a world free from terrorism.

He said the best way to fight terrorism was to strengthen democracy and address the root causes that stem from socio-economic deprivations.

The British foreign secretary said Britain recognised that no country had suffered more from the scourge of terrorism than Pakistan.

He said his government would continue to extend all possible support in promoting educational facilities in Pakistan besides employment generation and poverty eradication in various areas of Pakistan.

Hague also assured continued support of the British government in Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism and to meet the critical economic challenges facing the country.