ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar Tuesday ruled out resolution of Afghan issue without Pakistan saying Pakistan role would assume more significance in region following US pull out from Afghanistan.

He was talking to media men after chairing inaugural session of Nigerian South Asian Economic Summit.

“Pakistan role is very crucial in terms of establishment of peace in Afghanistan and this role will assume more significance after US withdrawal out from the region. US can not seek any solution to Afghanistan issue without participation of Pakistan”, he remarked.

To a question about UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary persons visit to Pakistan he said missing persons matter was Pakistan internal affair and Pakistan would resolve it on its own. Unluckily this issue could not be sorted out so far, he added. He held UN working group had not contacted him for meeting.

Referring to result deduced by committee constituted under defence minister on Balochistan issue, he said committee had worked out its report which would be presented in special meeting of the cabinet.

Regarding recommendations evolved by action committee on restoration of peace in Balochistan , end to sense of deprivation and implementation of Aghaz-e-Huqooq Balochistan , he said committee would place its recommendation before special meeting of cabinet.

Earlier addressing concluding session of 3-day conference held under auspices of SDPI he underscored the need for taking steps by SAARC countries to sort out the problems. SAARC region was facing social and environmental problems besides economic woes. Need is there that SAARC countries should focus on launching food movement besides setting up food bank, he stressed.

He was of the view hunger knows no religion. Collective efforts are needed to address the problems. SAARC countries would have to divert the direction of fruits of economic growth towards elimination of poverty besides improving social safety nets, he stated.

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