Pakistan has nothing to gain and stands to lose everything if Afghanistan remains unstable, said Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday, adding that the world should not remain oblivious to Pakistan's fight against terrorism. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the Pakistani foreign minister called on the Afghan government to work with Pakistan to resolve issues instead of indulging in a blame game. "We also urge the government of Afghanistan to refrain from a blame game, and engage with Pakistan to resolve all issues," Qureshi said. The Pakistani foreign minister made the remarks in response to the recent comments made by Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Ghulam M. Isaczai accusing Islamabad of supporting the Taliban. Last week, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) had convened an emergency meeting to discuss rising violence in Afghanistan. Isaczai and Indian diplomats at the forum said that terrorists use Pakistan's territory as a safe haven. The recent comments at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as an effort to mislead the international community, Qureshi said, adding: "The Afghan ambassador only propagated misinformation and misled the international community with his comments at the UNSC." Rejecting allegations about safe havens and sanctuaries, Qureshi said that Pakistan has eradicated all terrorist sanctuaries from its soil. He further noted that as the US and NATO forces' withdrawal nears completion, "we are seriously concerned about the level of violence in Afghanistan". "The reports regarding human rights violations are concerning," he said. Reiterating Pakistan's position on the Afghan peace process Qureshi said that Pakistan is only a facilitator of the Afghan peace process. "The Afghan peace process is at a critical juncture, and all energies should focus on finding a broad-based and inclusive settlement through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process," the foreign minister emphasized. Qureshi restated that Pakistan has no favorites in Afghanistan. "We see all sides in the Afghan conflict as Afghans. They (Afghan) have to decide their future." He further added that it is unfortunate that Pakistan is being made a scapegoat for the failure of others in Afghanistan. "Can we be held responsible for the lack of will to fight and capitulation from Afghan forces?" he asked.
