Pakistan says to work with new Afghan gov't to boost ties

As tensions heightened between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent weeks over cross-border shelling, Islamabad said on Thursday it will work with the new Afghan government to improve relationship.

Vote counting is underway in Afghanistan after the April 5 landmark presidential and provincial councils' elections and unofficial results are scheduled to be announced on April 24.

Afghan Interior Minister Umer Daudzai had accused Pakistan of firing rockets into Afghanistan's border regions on the election day in a post-polls press conference. He had also claimed that the Pakistani Taliban also increased attacks and crossing into border ahead and during elections despite Islamabad's claim of enhanced security along the border.

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam, said at her weekly press briefing that the country extended consistent support for free electoral process and took a number of measures to reinforce existing security arrangements to help efforts to ensure peaceful conduct of elections.

"These included enhanced vigilance and security along entire length of Pak-Afghan border; sealing of all the crossing points, deployment of additional troops, aerial surveillance, and enhanced communication through Border Coordination Centers."

She said at the request of the Afghan government, two crossing points at Torkham in the northwest Khyber tribal region and Chaman in Balochistan province were kept open to enable eligible Afghan voters in Pakistan to go to Afghanistan to vote.

The spokesperson said Pakistan will work with the next Afghan government and try to give further impetus to bilateral relations in all fields.

Welcoming the successful conduct of elections in Afghanistan, she said the continuation of democracy there is vital for peace and stability in the region.

Responding to comments by an Afghan official about talks with Taliban in Pakistan that it could intensify fighting in Afghanistan, Aslam said talks with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are internal matter of Pakistan and nobody has the right to interfere in Pakistan's internal affairs. She pointed out that Afghan government itself is keen to talk to the Taliban.