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| Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan (left) and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (right) [PHOTO: NATO] |
Brussels: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to NATO headquarters on Monday (3
December) for a discussion on issues of common interest, including stability in
Afghanistan. The Secretary General stressed that NATO and Pakistan share common
interests and face similar challenges.
"Most urgently, we need to remain united to defeat
terrorism," Fogh Rasmussen said. "At NATO we understand well that
Pakistan has paid a high price in these efforts. The Alliance stands together
with you to combat this scourge."
The Pakistani Foreign Minister also met with the North
Atlantic Council for an exchange of views.
Welcoming the renewed military-to-military dialogue in recent months,
Allied nations made clear that they stand ready to develop political dialogue
and cooperation with Pakistan, and
emphasised that Pakistan’s positive engagement was needed to ensure long-term
peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
Allies thanked Minister Rabbani Khar for the
recent opening by Pakistan of the lines of communications for the ISAF mission. Rasmussen said, "it's clear that the pursuit of peace and security in
your region is in the interest of the broader international community. That
includes peace in Afghanistan, where Pakistan has a particular role to
play."
Notably, NATO's ties with Pakistan have developed progressively
since the Alliance assisted Pakistan following the devastating earthquake in
2005.