ISLAMABAD, Sept 3, Reuter: Pakistan rejected on Saturday an Afghan proposal for four sided international talks to discuss cross border violations of the Geneva accords.
Foreign Secretary Humayun Khan said U.N. monitors were already in place to deal with violations of the pact that binds the two nations to stop interfering in each other’s affairs,
“It’s (Afghanistan) reported proposal for a separate conference… would, therefore, appear to be no more than a propaganda measure designed to acquire international recognition and legitimacy,” he said in a statement.
Afghan Foreign Minister Abdul Wakil wrote to the United Nations this week proposing talks with his counter parts from Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and the United States.
The Soviet Union and United States are guarantors of the accords, which also require Moscow to withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan by February 15 next year.
Khan told reporters that indirect talks were likely at a nonaligned foreign ministers meeting in Nicosia next week.
Special U.N. Envoy on Afghanistan Diego Cordoyez will be at the meeting and is likely to have talks with both Wakil and Pakistan’s foreign minister Sahab zada Yaqub Khan, he said.
Since the accords were signed in April, Afghanistan has repeatedly accused Pakistan of continuing to arm and support Moslem rebels fighting to topple the Kabul government.
Pakistan has accused Kabul of bombing and shelling border areas most recently on Thursday when it said five Afghan planes bombed two Pakistani villages, killing one person.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 9, 1988
