Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua. - File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan urged the Afghan authorities on Thursday to demonstrate responsibility in the complex situation in the region.

“At this defining stage when challenges have multiplied, as have the opportunities, it is our expectation that everyone, especially those in position of authority in Afghanistan, will demonstrate maturity and responsibility. This is no time for point-scoring, playing politics or grandstanding,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said at a press briefing.

She said national interest would guide Pakistan’s foreign policy and response to all challenges at all times. “It has been made clear to everyone that safeguarding national interests is the primary focus of Pakistan’s foreign policy.”

Ms Janjua said Pakistan was aware of the regional complexities and was trying to address them, but others also needed to have an objective appreciation of them.

About the reported arrest of six people in Afghanistan on the charge of plotting to assassinate President Hamid Karzai and having alleged links with North Waziristan, she said it was important to have the facts before making any statement.

“We should not fall prey to what has been given out without being sure of facts.” She advised the Afghan authorities to refrain from making irresponsible statements.

She said Afghanistan had sent some material to Pakistan in connection with the assassination of the Afghan peace council’s chief Burhanuddin Rabbani.

But what had been provided, she said, was a confessional statement of an Afghan national. She said the material was being examined.

The spokesperson said Pakistan was ready to provide any kind of assistance to Afghanistan in investigation, but this would obviously depend on the kind of evidence provided to it.

Answering a question about the change of venue of a trilateral meeting with the US and Afghanistan from Pakistan to Turkey, she said contacts among the three sides continued.

Interestingly, at the time of the briefing US Ambassador Cameron Munter was holding a meeting with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.

Ms Janjua said a number of statements emanating from different sections of the US administration underscored the importance of a cooperative relationship with Pakistan.

She said the Foreign Office and the US State Department were trying to ensure that relations between the two countries reflected the positives outlined by their leadership.

Answering a question about US media reports that the Americans themselves were engaged in secret contacts with the Haqqani network while they were accusing Pakistan, she said the situation in Afghanistan was obviously quite complex and that needed to be taken into account.

She said Pakistan wanted the situation in Afghanistan to calm down and to ensure that there was peace and stability in that country.

About the strategic partnership agreement signed by India and Afghanistan during President Karzai’s visit to New Delhi, she stressed that regional stability should not be affected in anyway.

“To achieve this we need to remain in a cooperative mode. Also, we continue to look at the agreement that has been signed between the two countries.”

Replying to a question about training of Afghan troops by India, she reiterated that details of the strategic partnership dialogue were being looked into and a number of elements enshrining it were being examined.

Answering a question about the Afghan ambassador’s meetings with the foreign secretary and the army chief, she said she was not aware if a specific message about the Rabbani case had been given.

The spokesperson said US Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman would come to Islamabad during his visit to the region but she could not confirm the date.

Asked what message would be conveyed to the US envoy in the light of the resolution of the all party conference, she said the most important message that was always given at the leadership level was that Pakistan was committed to peace and stability in Afghanistan and also to Afghan reconciliation.

Replying to another question, she said Pakistan had reminded the US State Department of its assurance to undertake an inquiry against CIA operative Raymond Davis.

Rejecting the Indian army chief’s concerns over what he termed the presence of three to four thousand Chinese armed forces personnel in Azad Kashmir, she said whatever work was being undertaken was in the context of development projects. She thanked the Chinese government for consenting to assist Pakistan in development efforts.