Pakistan desires stability of Afghanistan: Foreign Office

Pakistan boycotted the Bonn Conference to emphasise to the world community the importance of its sovereignty even though it wants peace and stability in Afghanistan, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said on Monday.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air strike on two posts near the Afghanistan border on November 26, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, made it impossible for Pakistan to participate in the Bonn Conference, he said. However, Pakistan has always desired the stability of Afghanistan, the new spokesperson added.

"Pakistan wants to see a peaceful Afghanistan but after the November 26 incident, in which NATO forces directly attacked the country's sovereignty, it was impossible for us to participate in the conference," he told state-run PTV.

"We had made a joint Commission with Afghanistan to develop peace in the region and it is Pakistan's utmost wish to see a result-oriented reconciliation process in Afghanistan," Basit said.

Pakistan and other countries knew that peace in Afghanistan is important for the stability of the region and the world, he said.

Angered by the air strike, Pakistan closed all NATO supply routes and asked the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase, reportedly used by Central Investigation Agency-operated drones, by December 11.