Diplomatic failure regretted

Published October 8, 2001

ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: Pakistan on Sunday expressed hope that the action of allied forces would remain targeted for achieving the aims identified by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Pakistan’s official reaction to the retaliatory attacks by the United States and British forces against Afghanistan, issued late on Sunday night by the foreign office, was of regret.

Except for a brief statement of foreign office spokesman, no other official made any comment on the developments.

He regretted that diplomatic efforts to convince the Taliban leadership to respond to the international demand did not succeed and military action had started against the Taliban regime.

“Pakistan did whatever it could to convince the Taliban leadership of the gravity of the situation and take the right decision in the interest of the Afghan people.

“It remains our hope that the US and allied action remains clearly targeted to achieve the aims identified by the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and every care will be taken to minimize harm to the Afghan people, who have already suffered ravages of conflict for more than two decades.

“We also hope that the operation will end soon and a concerted international effort will be undertaken to promote national reconciliation and help Afghanistan with economic reconstruction,” the spokesman said.

Opinion

Editorial

Agriculture tax
Updated 16 Nov, 2024

Agriculture tax

Amendments made in Punjab's agri income tax law are crucial to make the system equitable.
Genocidal violence
16 Nov, 2024

Genocidal violence

A RECENTLY released UN report confirms what many around the world already know: that Israel has been using genocidal...
Breathless Punjab
16 Nov, 2024

Breathless Punjab

PUNJAB’s smog crisis has effectively spiralled out of control, with air quality readings shattering all past...
Last call
Updated 15 Nov, 2024

Last call

PTI should hardly be turning its "final" protest into a "do or die" occasion.
Mini budget talk
15 Nov, 2024

Mini budget talk

NO matter how much Pakistan’s finance managers try to downplay the prospect of a ‘mini budget’ to pull off a...
Diabetes challenge
15 Nov, 2024

Diabetes challenge

AMONGST the many public health challenges confronting Pakistan, diabetes arguably does not get the attention it...