Sharif bills Ankara summit as a success

ISLAMABAD (Pajhwok): The Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between Afghanistan and the US is an issue that should be decided by Afghanistan in its best interest, the Pakistani prime minister said on Saturday.

Billing the Ankara trilateral summit as a success, he said civil and military leadership of the three states interacted on issues of mutual concern, including peace in Afghanistan.

Speaking to reporters on his way back from Turkey, the prime minister said the three sides had agreed to continue interacting in the future as well and enhance mutual cooperation. “This is a positive development.”

Pakistan respected Afghanistan’s desire for peace, he said, stressing the elimination of terrorism. “Pakistan is playing a role in ridding Afghanistan of terrorism.”

Recent attacks in Peshawar and Karachi were a setback for the nascent peace process that his administration had initiated with the Pakistani Taliban, the premier acknowledged.

“My desire is that not a single innocent life should be lost,” he remarked. “Realisation of this desire will be a great achievement on my part.”

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