Co-op between India and Afghan shouldn't be against Pak: Foreign Office

Islamabad: Against the backdrop of close ties between India and Afghanistan, Pakistan today said that any cooperation between them should not be against it.

"Such cooperation should not be to the detriment of Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said today during a weekly briefing while responding to a question about Indian arms supply to Afghanistan.

India has supplied four Mi25 helicopters to Afghanistan besides providing training to Afghan security forces.

Zakaria's remarks came days after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said India is not engaged in any proxy war in Afghanistan and has been carrying out reconstruction work there, as he slammed Pakistan for "encouraging" radicalism and not containing terror groups operating from its soil.

The spokesman said Pakistan has been emphasising that politically negotiated settlement is only viable solution of Afghan issue.

Zakaria said the Afghan government should give an unambiguous message in favour of reconciliation and offer incentives for the purpose, Radio Pakistan reported.

He also sought support for Pakistan's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, saying Pakistan meets the criteria required for membership of the elite group.