UK supports Turkish peace initiative

ISTANBUL (PAN, was important.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for South Asia Alistair Burt, also a participant of the Istanbul Conference, urged the international community to support the peace process if asked by Afghanistan. 

At the two-day event in Istanbul, representatives from 20 countries have joined aid agency members to map out Afghanistan’s future after the withdrawal of US and NATO-led combat troops from the country by 2014.

Neighbours had to play a vital role in bringing peace to Afghanistan for the sake of stabilising the entire region, he said in an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News on the sidelines of the meeting.

“Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan had an important meeting (last night) and Pakistan has said it will participate in the Istanbul peace initiative,” Burt added.

Terrorist acts in the region were a common problem for Pakistan and Afghanistan, which needed close cooperation, he said. “The UK supports the peace process in Afghanistan, and will continue training Afghan forces beyond 2014.”

mas/mud