By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan on Monday welcomed a decision by the Pak-Afghan peace jirga or council of elders to talk to the opponents.
Some 600 delegates from both sides attend the 4-day jirga, which in its declaration decided that a committee with 25 members from each side will be formed to approach the opponents.
It was a positive development as the scope of the dialogue has been widened to include opposing forces in Afghanistan as well, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said.
A Taliban spokesman Zabeehullah Mujahid has said that it has not yet been the Taliban policy to hold any talks with the jirga members.
Pakistani spokesperson told weekly press briefing that the establishment of the fifty-member council is recognition of the need for reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
She said it would be for the co-chairmen of the council to decide how to interact with the opposing forces in Afghanistan.
She said it was wrong to say that the militancy in Afghanistan is being sustained from tribal areas of Pakistan.
NUCLEAR: The spokesperson said up-gradation and maintenance of its nuclear capability was necessary to ensure credible minimum deterrence.
Tasnim Aslam however said Pakistan does not believe in conventional or nuclear arms race in South Asia.
Asked to comments on claims of some Western officials that they knew exact location of Pakistan’s nuclear installations, the spokesperson said such statements were untrue.
She said such statements were based on speculations and are part of the efforts to add spice to rumours.
To a question she said Pakistan and the United States keep on discussing different aspects of their relationship during bilateral visits.
She agreed that there have been several negative statements from Washington but added that there are many positive things as well.
INDIA DIALOGUE: To another question Ms. Tasnim Aslam said Pakistan wants forward movement in the dialogue process with India to resolve issues that cause conflicts and tension in the region.