Pakistan has sacrificed 250 Jawans for Afghanistan's stability: Kasuri

MALTA: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri Wednesday said that Pakistan had been in the front of international efforts for a stable Afghanistan and had contributed more than any other country for a stable and prosperous'' Afghanistan.

He observed this while addressing the august Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee of Malta.

In his address, which was attended by high Maltese dignitaries, members of the press corps and Maltese Parliamentarians, the Foreign Minister said that Pakistan had contributed immensely in the holding of the presidential elections in Afghanistan and would do so again during the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

He said Pakistan had now stationed 88, 000 troops on the border with Afghanistan which was more than the combined strength of the other coalition partners in Afghanistan". He said 250 Pakistani Jawans had martyrdom in the quest for a stable Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan proud of its " vibrant, vivacious and vociferous" democratic culture.

He said in the National Assembly, the government Opposition ratio was 190 to 150 and it was 56 to 44 in the senate. The Opposition was free and unfettered than " even most developed countries" and had full access to the electronic and print media and " Pakistan was unique in the aspect that opposition usually got more space than the government in the electronic and print media, which were all signs of a democratic polity.

Pakistan, he said had embarked on the path of " female empowerment" and had empowered more than 25, 000 women to seats of local power. The foreign Minister also met Anton Tabone, Chairman of the Maltese House of Representatives and discussed issues of mutual interest.