Madam, - Your Editorial "Getting it right on Afghanistan" (February 10th) omitted the positive role being played by Pakistan to promote peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.
Since the aftermath of US intervention in Afghanistan, following 9/11, Pakistan has been in the forefront of supporting efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan through the Bonn process. Our support facilitated the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections.
We have extended material and financial assistance, including a grant of $300 million even though we are not a donor country.
Pakistan is not supporting the Taliban. It should not be considered responsible for everything which goes wrong in Afghanistan. The Afghan government and Nato/ISAF troops are responsible and they should do more to prevent cross-border movement.
Pakistan, for its part, has done more than its share. It has established 700 military checkpoints along the Pak-Afghan border, compared with 200 checkpoints of the Afghan and Nato forces. Over 80,000 Pakistan army and paramilitary personnel have been deployed on the long and porous Pakistan and Afghanistan border to control the movement of undesirable elements in either direction.
We have killed or captured over 800 Al-Qaeda or Taliban operatives. Several hundred of our troops have been killed in these operations.
Pakistan is also considering fencing and mining in selective areas along the Pak-Afghan border. Such measures would greatly help in preventing the cross-border militant activity.
There are more than 3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. They need to return to Afghanistan. There are many Taliban sympathisers among them. The Afghan government and Nato/ISAF must arrange for their return to Afghanistan, instead of blaming Pakistan for every problem. - Yours, etc,
ZEHRA AKBARI,
Minister,
Embassy of Pakistan,
Dublin 4.