Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar: Pakistan would be willing to push the Afghan militant groups like the Haqqani network and the Taliban to make peace if asked to do so by the Afghan government; Pakistan and Qatar to collaborate on energy and tr
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    • February 6-12

    According to reports, Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said that Pakistan would be willing to push the Afghan militant groups like the Haqqani network and the Taliban to make peace if asked to do so by the Afghan government, an action seen as key to the reconciliation process. Ms Khar was speaking to reporters after a trip to Kabul. She said “lots of ill will” between the two countries, whose ties have been strained in recent months, had faded. She pointed out that Pakistan’s role is vital because Taliban leaders are thought to be based in the country. But there are also limits to what Islamabad can accomplish since the Taliban have been difficult to control and are wary of Pakistani influence. The peace process has picked up momentum in recent months with the Taliban’s decision to set up a political office in Qatar to facilitate negotiations. But progress has been limited, hampered by distrust between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States. 1

    In another development, according to reports, Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to collaborate in diverse areas mainly energy, trade, agriculture and infrastructure development. Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabar Al Thani discussed ways to further promote trade and investment ties compatible to their bilateral relations in a meeting held at the Amiri Diwan – the office of Qatar’s Prime Minister. The two sides discussed diverse issues, including joint development of hydropower sector, identification of sources of financing, exploration of investment opportunities in energy sector, rehabilitation of existing hydropower plants and infrastructure development. 2

    In other developments, according to reports, Pakistan and Russia have agreed on to enhance cooperation in trade and energy and people-to-people contacts. Addressing a press conference along with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that various aspects of improving cooperation had been discussed during her meeting with Lavrov. Khar is on a four-day visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of her Russian counterpart. The foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and means of enhancing cooperation in energy, infrastructure development, agriculture and science and technology. 3

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