Zero in on Afghanistan, Pak tells US

“The internal situation in Afghanistan is being overlooked and the impact it is having on the cross-border movement has to be considered,” Qureshi said in an interview with Al Jazeera news channel in Washington.

“So the concerns of an internal problem, an internal crisis within Afghanistan should not (and) cannot be overlooked.

“Afghanistan should acknowledge that there have been serious failings on their side and they need to improve an effort, they need to improve the Afghan government on their side,” he added.

Qureshi’s comments came against the backdrop of a bitter spat between Islamabad and Kabul over a wave of attacks in Afghanistan blamed on the Taliban, including the suicide bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul.

The Afghan government on Monday said it would boycott a series of upcoming meetings with Pakistan until “bilateral trust” is restored.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai also accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency of involvement in the latest attacks.

Pakistan has denied the Afghan government’s allegations.

Qureshi said his government will not negotiate with terrorists.

Replying to a question about the US asking Pakistan to do more to counter the activities of Taliban and Al Qaida militants, Qureshi said: “I think they (the US) should also recognise the successes that we have made. They should also realise the people that we have apprehended.”

Noting that there had been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan and not just in areas bordering Pakistan, he said this trend “cannot be blamed on Pakistan”.

“It is very easy to pass the buck. It has to be ownership. What we are not shy of is, if there is a failing on our part, we are willing to look at things and improve upon our strategy,” he said.

Asked why there had been a spike in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Qureshi replied: “Afghanistan is about to hold elections. You have to satisfy the local population and the government in Afghanistan will be accounted for. And they are looking, perhaps, for scapegoats.”

Qureshi also said the Pakistan People’s Party-led government “will not negotiate with terrorists”.

He said, “The negotiations that we’ve had in the past and that we’re having right now are with tribal elders.

“The idea is to wean them away from the extremist element. But we will not negotiate with terrorists.” Pointing out that the Pakistan government had no contacts with the Taliban, Qureshi said Islamabad had “a hands-off policy” towards the militants.

However, Qureshi said he could not say “with certainty” that Al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden was not in Pakistan.

“There’s been speculation for some years that Osama bin Laden may be in Pakistan.. The whole world wants to know where he is.”

Asked if he could say with certainty that bin Laden is not in Pakistan, he replied: “I cannot say with certainty, but I will say that if we have sufficient information, the government of Pakistan will take action.”