Political stability important for economic progress in Pakistan
Friday, 31 August 2007
President Pervez Musharraf is trying to reconcile with all political forces ahead of elections as stability is key to economic progress in Pakistan.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan told journalists Thursday when asked to comment on Musharraf's understanding with ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and return of another ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Islamabad from exile.
"Political stability is very important for Pakistan as political stability is key to economic progress", he said.
Khan said there was an effort by President Musharraf that all political forces should be able to reach some kind of reconciliation and consensus so there was a smooth progress in the political process that they anticipated in coming months.
The foreign secretary said that since the present government came to power 7-8 years ago there had been many institutional and economic reforms and "we are today in good economic shape and this is a trajectory that we need to maintain."
All these reported moves in political arena in Pakistan were part of the process of elections likely to be held in next few months, he said.
Meanwhile, Khan reaffirmed Islamabad's resolve to fight terrorism and extremism as forces of anti-progress.
"We unequivocally condemn terrorists because terrorism, extremism are anti-progress forces that tend to destabilise societies", he said to a question at a press conference on the outcome of Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary level meeting that concluded in the city Thursday noon.
Khan said terrorism was a phenomenon that afflicted many regions and countries in the world including Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.
Pakistan, he said, had cooperation with many countries including India in countering terrorism.
"In our own interest, we are fighting the forces of terrorism and extremism," he said.
The Pak foreign secretary rejected India's allegation that terrorist outfits from Pakistan are behind the recent bombings in Hyderabad.
"Allegation is rejected", he said in reply to a question.
He said incidents of terrorism ought to be investigated wherever it took place.
As far as Pakistan is concerned, Khan said if there was any specific information or specific fact Pakistan was ready to extend assistance for investigation.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan told journalists Thursday when asked to comment on Musharraf's understanding with ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and return of another ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Islamabad from exile.
"Political stability is very important for Pakistan as political stability is key to economic progress", he said.
Khan said there was an effort by President Musharraf that all political forces should be able to reach some kind of reconciliation and consensus so there was a smooth progress in the political process that they anticipated in coming months.
The foreign secretary said that since the present government came to power 7-8 years ago there had been many institutional and economic reforms and "we are today in good economic shape and this is a trajectory that we need to maintain."
All these reported moves in political arena in Pakistan were part of the process of elections likely to be held in next few months, he said.
Meanwhile, Khan reaffirmed Islamabad's resolve to fight terrorism and extremism as forces of anti-progress.
"We unequivocally condemn terrorists because terrorism, extremism are anti-progress forces that tend to destabilise societies", he said to a question at a press conference on the outcome of Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary level meeting that concluded in the city Thursday noon.
Khan said terrorism was a phenomenon that afflicted many regions and countries in the world including Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.
Pakistan, he said, had cooperation with many countries including India in countering terrorism.
"In our own interest, we are fighting the forces of terrorism and extremism," he said.
The Pak foreign secretary rejected India's allegation that terrorist outfits from Pakistan are behind the recent bombings in Hyderabad.
"Allegation is rejected", he said in reply to a question.
He said incidents of terrorism ought to be investigated wherever it took place.
As far as Pakistan is concerned, Khan said if there was any specific information or specific fact Pakistan was ready to extend assistance for investigation.