PTI Secretary General, Dr. Arif Alvi reacting on the resignation of Netherlands government (LINK 1, LINK 2) on the issue of troops pull-out has said that this is the first step in the recognition of PTI's long standing stance that a clear and immediate exit strategy is the only way to bring peace to the troubled region.  The same was communicated to the officials of the Dutch Foreign Ministry in The Hague in an hour long meeting with the PTI delegation led by Dr Arif Alvi a week before.  It was requested by the delegation that the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan has been counter productive and is not conducive to any solution in that country.  Such a presence is also leading to de-stabilisation in Pakistan.

Dr. Alvi thanked the Dutch government for patient listening to our stance in the meeting and subsequent decision.  He further added that other NATO partners should follow suit and announce their withdrawal plans as well.