British High Commissioner in Pakistan Philip Barton has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to ensure that their territories are not used against other countries.
In an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan, he said Pakistan is carrying out a comprehensive operation in North Waziristan against all terrorists, which is important. He said both Pakistani civilian and military leadership is determined to defeat terrorism through a concerted effort.
The High Commissioner said main aim of Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan is to provide training to Afghan National Security Forces. He said the UK has already set up a school near Kabul in this regard to provide training to the officers.
Regarding the Conference on Afghanistan, he said it is an opportunity for the newly installed coalition government in Afghanistan to set out their reform plans, as well as for international community to express their solidarity and support to Afghanistan.
He said 2015 onward, Afghanistan will enter a decade of transformation and President Ashraf Ghani already has clear plans on the economic side for making his country a self-reliant.
Philip Barton said the conference is also an important opportunity for Pakistan as to how it strengthens the regional connectivity in terms of transit trade, energy links, transport links and allowing other countries to trade goods to Afghanistan through its territory.
Regarding post-2014 security situation, he said the international community including the UK has done a good job in capacity building of Afghan National Security Forces and now is the time that they are fully capable to look after the security matters. He said two rounds of Afghan Presidential Elections are testimony of that where Afghan National Security Forces led the security plan.