Pakistan’s cooperation vital in Afghanistan: NATO chief
December 7th, 2011 - 10:24 pm ICT by IANSBrussels, Dec 7 (IANS) NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday that Pakistan’s help is essential in stabilising Afghanistan, days after the alliance’s cross-border air raid killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
“I fully agree… we need a positive engagement of Pakistan if we are to ensure long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan and in the region. So there is no alternative,” he told reporters ahead of a two-day session of NATO foreign ministers here, Xinhua reported.
“The only way forward is positive cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, between the United States and Pakistan, between NATO and Pakistan,” Rasmussen said.
“I hope to see further progress in our relationship. We have offered a political framework for cooperation between NATO and Pakistan,” he said.
On Nov 26, NATO fighter jets and helicopter gunships bombed Pakistan’s two border posts, leaving 24 Pakistani soldiers dead.
Islamabad reacted angrily to the attack by pulling out of an international conference on Afghanistan’s future in Bonn Monday.
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Tags: afghanistan, air raid, anders fogh rasmussen, bonn, border posts, brussels, cooperation, cross border, fighter jets, foreign ministers, helicopter gunships, islamabad, nato, nato chief, nato secretary general, pakistan, pakistani soldiers, peace and stability, political framework, xinhua