* EU envoy calls for more comprehensive plan to eliminate threat of terrorism, militancy
* Says Swat operation will yield positive results in Pakistan, Afghanistan
* EU working hard to provide greater market access to Pakistani products
* Supports resumption of high-level engagement between India and Pakistan
By Zulfiqar Ghuman and Sajjad Malik
ISLAMABAD: Peaceful elements within the Taliban should be given a chance to cooperate with the government, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said on Monday.
"I think anybody willing to cooperate should be given a chance. Dialogue is needed (to end the conflict) and for the talks to succeed, local leadership should be contacted," he told Daily Times in an exclusive interview. He said the ongoing battle against the Taliban could not be won by military might alone, adding it was vital to formulate a "more comprehensive plan" to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the region.
Helping out: Appreciating the Swat operation, Solana said it had been successful as all stakeholders in Pakistan were united against the Taliban. "I think it was a great operation and it was successful because all the actors were on the same wavelength. It proves that it is very important that your country gets together on key issues," he said. He rejected the impression the Swat operation would not help the NATO and US forces in Afghanistan. "The success in Swat will help the campaign against terrorism on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border," he said.
More access: The high representative said Pakistan's actions against the Taliban would help the coalition forces in Afghanistan control the situation in the neighbouring country. He said the EU was trying to deepen its relations with Pakistan, adding talks were underway to grant Islamabad a generalised system of preferential status. He said the EU and Pakistan were also attempting to finalise a free trade area agreement. The EU wants to work more closely on institution building in Pakistan, he added. "We are working very hard with your trade minister to work out a reformed free trade agreement to give more access to Pakistani products in the EU markets," he said.
Good move: Solana supported the resumption of high-level engagement between India and Pakistan but refused to comment on the Indo-Pak conflict unless the EU was asked to intervene by the two sides. He said both sides should solve the Kashmir issue amicably. "I'm very pleased to see Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh meeting Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. This is a very important and encouraging development. No third party can resolve the issues of parties concerned better than the parties themselves," he said.
The high representative said the international community was doing a lot for Pakistan, adding the Friends of Democratic Pakistan were especially striving to meet the country's needs. However, he added, it might not be possible for them to meet each and every need, as they were themselves passing through a difficult phase due to the economic recession. "I hope once they come out of the current financial crisis, they will provide more help in future," he added.
Concerning the security of Pakistan's atomic weapons, Solana said he was not an expert on the issue. However, he said various US and EU defence officials had informed him that they were safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment