Pakistan opposes inclusion of India in Afghan council

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jan 10 (PTI) Pakistan has expressed its
reservations over the inclusion of India in a regional council
on Afghanistan proposed by Britain, even as it asked to
maintain the "historic neutrality" to ensure that Afghan soil
is not used against any of its neighbours.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani conveyed Pakistan's
concerns to visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband
during a meeting Saturday, the Dawn newspaper quoted its
sources as saying.
Gilani said the move to include India might compromise
Pakistan's interest. He also discussed the alleged use of
Afghan soil by India for "subversive activities in Pakistan"
and asked allied forces to address Islamabad's concerns.
"The forthcoming London conference on Afghanistan must
exclusively focus on Afghanistan," Gilani was quoted as saying
in a statement issued by his office.
"The historic neutrality of Afghanistan should be
maintained with the commitment that Afghan soil will not be
used against any of its neighbours," he added.
Miliband told Gilani that UK considered Pakistan's
role as Afghanistan’s neighbour as vital and assured him that
Islamabad’s interests will not be compromised.
UK is actively working on setting up a "regional
stabilisation council" after hosting an international
conference on Afghanistan, scheduled to be held in London on
January 28. The creation of a regional framework is being
projected by UK as a key theme of the London meet. PTI RHL
ANU