GERMANY: Pakistan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan reiterates his country's role in helping to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan

Record ID: 613365

  • Title: GERMANY: Pakistan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan reiterates his country's role in helping to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan
  • Date: 7th February 2010
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 6, 2010) (REUTERS) MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE SIGN DELEGATE READING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NAWABZADA MALIK AMAD KHAN, SAYING: "On the Pakistani side of Pakistan and the Afghan side, the Afghan government, we are always there to help. We aren't there to impose anything in Afghanistan, but whatever help we can extend, as far as talks are concerned, anyone at our side of the border we are in a position to do that probably." DELEGATE TYPING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NAWABZADA MALIK AMAD KHAN, SAYING: "Well, yes, but then again you have to remember that we don't use merely the word Taliban. You see you have to differentiate between the good and the bad ones among them." (REPORTER ASKS: "Who are the bad ones?") "The ones who resort to what's happening now, like the bomb blasts, like the attacks, like everything else. So obviously the language they speak is the language of terrorism, and that's why they are being dealt with in a severe way. However, there are some who are willing to lay down arms and who want to be involved as part of the mainstream politics, so there are reconcilable elements and as we go on things will become clearer."
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA4FE49PS9MEI8G7GICV06BWBZU
  • Story Text: Pakistan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs says moderate members of the Taliban should be encouraged into the international fold.
    The Pakistani Minister for Foreign Affairs says his government was willing to work with disgruntled members of the Taliban.
    Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, told Reuters Pakistan was "always there to help" to solve the seemingly intractable problems of Afghanistan.
    Amad was speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (February 6).
    He said: "On the Pakistani side of Pakistan and the Afghan side, the Afghan government, we are always there to help. We aren't there to impose anything in Afghanistan, but whatever help we can extend, as far as talks are concerned, anyone at our side of the border we are in a position to do that probably."
    The minister insisted that the international community must "differentiate between the good and the bad" members of the Taliban. He said: "There are some who are willing to lay down arms and who want to be involved as part of the mainstream politics, so there are reconcilable elements and as we go on things will become clearer."
    Amad said criticism of Pakistan for failing to prevent al Qaeda attacks on the Afghan border were unfair. He said: "This is a strange sort of a thing, you see. We can't really pinpoint who is where but obviously, whatever our capabilities and whatever information we have we would be more than willing to assist everyone. But then just blaming Pakistan that 'why can't you do enough?', that is inappropriate because the thing is that at times you hear that the al Qaeda leadership has come here and you aren't helping. But the point is how could he escape the might of the US and the Nato forces? That you have to keep in mind."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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