WASHINGTON: Afghanistan and Pakistan can take joint action against the Taliban groups who refuse to participate in the reconciliation process, says prime minister’s Special assistant for foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.

Briefing the Pakistani media at the end of a 10-day visit to Washington, Mr Fatemi hoped that the terrorist attack in Gurdaspur in Indian Punjab would not have any impact on efforts to improve bilateral ties with India as Pakistan had nothing to do with it.

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The prime minister’s adviser said that Pakistan used “whatever little influence” it had on the Taliban to encourage them to participate in the first ever “publicly acknowledged” meeting between the rebels and Afghan officials in Murree earlier this month.

Noting that the two sides were meeting again, in Murree on Friday, Mr Fatemi said Pakistan was determined to ensure that this did not prove to be “a one-off exercise”.

“We have had a small but important breakthrough. We have to build on this so that this can become a process,” he said.

Mr Fatemi noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan had cooperated with each other in military operations and intelligence sharing. And they had also agreed to “consider where and how joint action could be taken” against those who refuse to participate in the reconciliation process.

“This signifies the extent to which we wish to work together in order to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he said.

A joint military action against the militant, however, would “depend on the situation, right now there is a strong desire” to continue the reconciliation process, he added.

Referring to the terrorist attack in Gurdaspur, Mr Fatemi said Pakistan was firmly committed to rooting out terrorism in all its forms. “The attack should have no impact on relations because it has nothing to do with Pakistan,” he said.

Initially, India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for the attack, saying: “If we are hit, we will give a befitting reply.” Since then, Indian officials have tampered down their statements, saying that they were waiting for more information to determine who was behind the attack.

Mr Fatemi said that India occupied “a priority position” in the prime minister’s vision for peaceful and stable South Asia and Pakistan will continue to engage India for resolving all issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Fatemi noted that Pakistan had “excellent relations” with China and Iran. Its relations with Afghanistan also had improved greatly.

“How much better it would have been if India had responded to our overtures. It is only through the process of engagement tensions can be reduced,” he said.

Mr Fatemi also urged the United States to play a role in reducing tensions in South Asia.

“If they believe that there should be peace in India, then the United States uses its influence to nudge the countries in the right direction,” he said.

Mr Fatemi disagreed with the suggestion that Pakistan was seeking US “intervention or interference” in South Asia.

“It is not interference. It is a very fair thing. Many friendly countries have pointed out to us that heightened tensions between India and Pakistan is not something they want to see,” he said.

“They want to see us as friends and have used their contacts to urge them (the Indians) that they should involve in a dialogue with Pakistan.”

Summing up his 10-day visit to Washington, Mr Fatemi said his meetings with US officials and lawmakers helped to build the mutual trust that would be passed on to the next administration after the 2016 US presidential election. He said he also discussed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s expected visit to Washington in October, although the dates had not been finalised yet. The prime minister will also visit New York in September to attend the UN General Assembly.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2015

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