Concerted action, not blame game, needed to resolve conflicts: Sartaj Aziz

AMRITSAR: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Sunday concerted action is needed for peaceful resolution of regional conflicts and “blame games” will not help toward achieving peace.

Addressing the Heart of Asia Conference underway in Amritsar, India, Aziz said peaceful resolution of unresolved conflicts would boost regional cooperation and communication.

Eluding to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s allegations that Pakistan was giving “sanctuary” to terrorists, Aziz said concerted policy and action, not blame games, are needed to establish peace in Afghanistan. Such blame games will not bring peace to Afghanistan, he said.

Aziz said that Pakistan's attendance at the Conference, despite escalating tensions with India, shows Pakistan's resolve to establish peace in Afghanistan and the overall region.

The foreign policy advisor said a serious review of peace efforts in Afghanistan is needed. Despite Ashraf Ghani's comments about Pakistan, Aziz praised the efforts of the Afghan President and Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in development of Afghanistan.

"Afghan forces have combated terrorism bravely," Aziz said.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier on Sunday accused Pakistan of providing ‘sanctuary’ to terrorists and mocked the neighbouring country over its promised aid to Afghanistan.

Addressing the Heart of Asia Conference underway in Amritsar, Ghani said the $500 million promised by Pakistan for Afghan reconstruction would be better utilised in ‘fighting terrorism’.

'Pakistan ready for talks with India'

Sartaj Aziz said earlier Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India and discuss the issue of terrorism within the framework of a comprehensive dialogue agreed upon on the sidelines of last year s Heart of Asia.

Sartaj Aziz told the Indian newspaper The Sunday Express on Saturday that he was in Amritsar to show his commitment to Afghanistan's peace and security.

"I am here to attend the Heart of Asia meeting and by coming here we are showing our commitment to first of all to the importance of Heart of Asia for Afghanistan s peace and security. I am also here to show our commitment to peace and security of the region and commitment to promote multilateral peace for this purpose," Aziz said.

He said that his presence in India was an indication that Pakistan was ready for bilateral talks.

"If India shows any interest I would certainly like to meet. I do not think we need to request for a meeting. We are here so we will see how it goes," Aziz said.

Pakistan, he said, is desirous of peace. Peace requires dialogue and any issues can be discussed across the table than through the media, he said.

"If we do not have structured dialogue then the dialogue through media increases hostility and increases negative perceptions," Aziz said. "Whenever India is ready we will be ready. Terrorism is a subject under the comprehensive dialogue when we meet we can discuss that also."

Sartaj Aziz meets Afghanistan President

Sartaj Aziz met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani during the Conference earlier today (Sunday) where the two leaders held talks on peace and progress in the region and security situation in Afghanistan in particular.

Aziz, Modi exchange pleasantries 

Sartaj Aziz arrived in Amritsar on Saturday to participate in the Heart of Asia Conference, where he also attended a banquet hosted in honour of representatives from different states and international observers.

The dinner was hosted for the visiting dignitaries at a heritage village named 'Sadda Pind (our village)' located on the outskirts of Amritsar. Indian Premier Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also attended the banquet hosted by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Sartaj Aziz shook hands with PM Narendra Modi, where the latter inquired with him about Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Aziz conveyed PM Sharif's best wishes to Narendra Modi, which the Indian premier reciprocated with his well wishes for his Pakistani counterpart.

Earlier upon his arrival, he was received by Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and joint secretary of Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Sartaj Aziz also sent a bouquet to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at her residence extending his sincere wishes for her speedy recovery.

The advisor is representing Pakistan in the Heart of Asia Conference with focus on regional cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours, and the efforts for durable peace in the war-ravaged country.

Pakistan role in Afghan peace

"Pakistan has always had key significance and played an important role with regard to peace and stability in Afghanistan," Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said, while speaking to media in Amritsar.

He added the foreign advisor's address with the regional summit tomorrow will be pivotal to Afghanistan and there is no exclusive meeting scheduled between India and Pakistan on the sideline of the conference. All focus will be on Afghanistan.

Heart of Asia Process

On Sunday, Indian Prime Minister and Afghan President jointly inaugurated the two-day summit being attended by around 40 foreign ministers and dignitaries of 14 participating countries in Indian city of Amritsar.

The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process was launched in 2011 with the objective to boost economic and security cooperation.

Its members include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates.

The initiative has the support of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Britain and the United States.

Aziz's early departure

Sartaj arrived in India ahead of schedule on Saturday instead of Sunday. The sudden change in schedule has been seen as part of last-minute efforts for talks with India on the sidelines of Heart of Asia conference.

Sources at Pakistan Foreign Office, however, said Aziz departed early in view of weather conditions.

The regional moot began on Saturday in Amritsar with foreign secretary session held on its first day.

Geo News has learnt that Sartaj Aziz, on the sidelines of the regional moot, will hold meetings with PM Narendra and representatives from other member states.

His meeting with Afghan representatives at the Heart of Asia conference is being seen as vital to the bilateral ties between the two countries in coming days.

The conference has been taking place at a time of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over Kashmir and continuing skirmishes at the border.

Earlier on Thursday, FO spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan, despite India's negativity in scuttling SAARC, would attend the Heart of Asia Conference due to its commitment to Afghanistan's peace and stability.

He added that Pakistan would not accept any pre-conditions for holding dialogue with India.

Zakaria said, "The current phase of indigenous self-determination movement in Indian occupied Kashmir had entered into the fifth month and was continuing in the face of worst violations of human rights of defenceless Kashmiris at the hands of Indian occupation forces."

Pakistan High Commission in Delhi falls prey to India cash crunch

Earlier on Saturday, Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi fell prey to India cash crunch as banks refused to grant Indian currency to its staffers in return for dollars.

Pakistan has lodged a protest with Indian Ministry for External Affairs saying this treatment of diplomatic staff was in 'sheer violation of the Vienna Convention'.