The main thing that we both agreed upon was to restore trust, end the blame game against each other and create a positive atmosphere, we will work on establishing memorandum of trust building to avoid such a situation in the future.

Sartaj Aziz

Categorized in : World

I think what we have achieved in these three years is quite remarkable, but there are risks involved of how far we can go and in what sequence we should go and in what scale we should go.

I don't see the relations are tense at the moment, they are moving in the right direction and there are of course differences, but I don't think there is any major crisis in the relationship.

So we have to make sure that we move in a decisive way, but at a measured pace and according to our capacity, and ensuring that the blowback is manageable.

If India keeps expanding its nuclear arsenal and other arsenal, Pakistan cannot stay quiet. It has to achieve adequate deterrence.

There has been no aggression or provocation by Pakistan. by Sartaj Aziz

There has been no aggression or provocation by Pakistan.

Pakistan has serious concerns over these developments and will take all necessary measures to augment its defence capabilities.

We are not oblivious to our defence needs and will have to upgrade our defensive capabilities through suitable technologies without entering into an arms race.

We will examine this with the suppliers to see if there is an alternative source of financing, so if any arrangements can be made, we will buy them, otherwise obviously we will have to look for planes from somewhere else.

I hope in the coming days some progress (can be made) ... at some level, and once we start, we hope they will gather momentum.

The strength of these values in America is very strong, even if, you know, for political reasons or short-term popularity somebody espouses these ideas to appeal to one segment of the population, the broad spectrum of America... will not buy this.

What you do in the campaign doesn't mean that it becomes policy. by Sartaj Aziz

What you do in the campaign doesn't mean that it becomes policy.

That's why peace in Afghanistan can come only through a reconcili... by Sartaj Aziz

That's why peace in Afghanistan can come only through a reconciliation process.

We have some influence in them because their leadership is in Pak... by Sartaj Aziz

We have some influence in them because their leadership is in Pakistan.

In our view, a sudden withdrawal would not be advisable. by Sartaj Aziz

In our view, a sudden withdrawal would not be advisable.

We are confident that the process would lead to a significant reduction in violence (in Afghanistan), we have to exert all our efforts and energies for keeping the process on track.

It is therefore important that preconditions are not attached to the start of the negotiation process. This we argue will be counterproductive, the threat of use of military action against irreconcilables cannot precede the offer of talks to all the groups.

Pakistan has called for resolution of differences through peaceful means in the larger interest of Muslim unity in these challenging times.

The main thing that we both agreed upon was to restore trust, end... by Sartaj Aziz

The main thing that we both agreed upon was to restore trust, end the blame game against each other.

The infrastructure of the Haqqani network in North Waziristan, which included the IED (improvised explosive device) factories and a number of other capacities including communication, has been disrupted.

Our assessment is that their capacity in Afghanistan is much, much bigger - probably 80/90 percent compared to what it is here. And what is here is also being cleaned out as a part of our operations.