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    October 06, 2011

Pakistan Cautious About Indo-Afghan Strategic Pact

   Kurt Achin | Islamabad
   Photo: Reuters
   Afghan President Hamid Karzai with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
   (file photo)

   Pakistan has issued a muted official reaction to this week's signing of
   a strategic pact between neighboring Afghanistan and India. Afghan
   President Hamid Karzai signed the agreement Tuesday during a visit to
   New Delhi.
   Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said Thursday in Islamabad
   that the government is closely studying the pact.

   Map of Pakistan

   'The fundamental principle of ensuring stability in the region must be
   taken into full account,' Janjua said.
   She repeated Islamabad's denial of accusations by the Afghan government
   that Pakistan was involved in last month's killing of former Afghan
   president and peace negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani. She urged Kabul to
   stop making such claims.
   'It is our expectation that everyone, especially those in a position of
   authority in Afghanistan, will demonstrate requisite maturity and
   responsibilit," said Janjua. "This is no time for point scoring,
   playing politics, or grandstanding.'
   This week's Indo-Afghan agreement includes, among other areas of
   cooperation, a deepening of security ties, under which Indian military
   experts will train Afghan security forces.
   In an effort to reassure Pakistan after signing the deal, Afghan
   President Hamid Karzai called Pakistan a 'twin brother,' while calling
   India a "great friend."
   However, Karzai and senior U.S. officials have stepped up accusations
   that Pakistan's intelligence agency played a key role in a string of
   recent deadly attacks in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies the accusations.
   Janjua says Pakistan would like to see the situation in Afghanistan
   'calm down.'
   In remarks to reporters Wednesday night, Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf
   Raza Gilani also refrained from criticizing the new Indo-Afghan pact.
   'Both are sovereign countries. They have the right to do whatever they
   want to. We are all in the same region,' said Gilani.
   Pakistani defense analyst Ayesha Siddiqa says the country's leaders are
   holding back their real opinions about the deal.
   'Of course they don't like it. This is beyond doubt that the Pakistani
   establishment does not like what has happened," said Siddiqa. "Because
   what they've been crying for so long is that Indian presence in
   Afghanistan would hurt Pakistan's interests.'
   Pakistan's media have been more vocal about their distaste for the
   Indo-Afghan pact. The leading newspaper Dawn said Thursday that the
   agreement will increase mistrust in the region. The Nation said it will
   'prove destabilizing' and alleged it is part of an Indian plan to
   encircle Pakistan.
   The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also dismissed the latest
   Afghan accusations that those arrested in connection with an alleged
   assassination plot targeting Karzai had links with Pakistani militants.