Afghanistan doesn't need new security structure: Pak

On the eve of a key conference on Afghanistan in Istanbul on Wednesday, Pakistan on Tuesday said the world community should focus on implementing existing mechanisms for regional peace and security instead of floating proposals for creating a new security structure for the war-torn country.

Reacting to proposals being floated by some countries to create a new security structure for Afghanistan as the US prepares to pull out its troops from there Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said there was no dearth of mechanisms in the region.

"We have so many mechanisms, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in which Pakistan has an observer's status, SAARC and Economic Cooperation Organisation," Khar, who will represent Pakistan in the Conference on Afghanistan on Wednesday, told state-run APP news agency in Istanbul.

Instead of proposing new mechanisms, efforts should be made to implement the existing mechanisms for peace, security and development in the region, she said.

Any new structure would not benefit Afghanistan and any process for solving the Afghan problem should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned, she said.

Neighbouring countries should have only a supportive role in ensuring the peace, security and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and the Istanbul Conference would help further this objective, she contended.

Khar said the meeting will lead to various peace processes, including the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan next month and the Chicago Conference.

She expressed confidence that the meeting in Istanbul will give confidence to Afghanistan that all important players are supporting its initiatives for peace and stability.

The meeting is being attended by the immediate and extended neighbours of Afghanistan and important world players, including India.

Khar said Pakistan will support all initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

She said the Afghans themselves should decide their future.

"Being an important neighbour, Pakistan would support efforts in this regard," she added.

Responding to a question about India's inclusion in the Istanbul Conference, Khar said all countries that can help promote peace in Afghanistan are welcome and Pakistan has no problem with any country.

"Pakistan is an important and responsible state committed to peace and security in Afghanistan," she said.

Asked about the inclusion of "Afghan resistance forces" in the peace process, she said it was for Afghanistan, the Afghan people and the government to decide this issue.