'Pak. has nothing to worry about Alliance'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 27. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, claims that his Government has established contact with the new rulers (Northern Alliance) of Afghanistan and that Pakistan has nothing to worry about the Alliance.

In an interview to the state-run Pakistan Television on Monday night, Gen. Musharraf reiterated support for the United Nations' efforts to form a broadbased, multi-ethnic Government in Afghanistan and maintained that any future political dispensation in Kabul would be friendly towards Pakistan.

``There is nothing to worry about as far as Northern Alliance is concerned. We are in contact with each other. We recognise Northern Alliance and each composite group of the Northern Alliance. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about, whatever their role be in a multi-ethnic Government,'' he said.

He claimed that there was a wrong perception that the presence of Northern Alliance in Kabul would be a security concern for Pakistan. ``Pakistan has its own importance with regard to Afghanistan. Being a landlocked country, whatever Government comes into being Afghanistan will be friendly towards Pakistan,'' he said.

On the so-called ``hands on''' or ``hands off'' policy towards Afghanistan, Gen. Musharraf said Pakistan's earlier policy was in response to the policies pursued by the respective Afghan Governments. ``In my opinion, keeping in view the culture and the psyche of the Afghans, no solution should be imposed on them. One can only facilitate them to whatever home grown political arrangement takes shape there, without any outside interference,'' he said.

``A peaceful and friendly Government in Afghanistan is required by everyone. All the ethnic groups in Afghanistan are contacting us and whichever Government is there, I am sure, will be friendly to us,'' Gen. Musharraf said.

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Section  : International
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