Pak emergency: Bangladesh terms it internal matter, Afghanistan for quick normalisation

Hoping that instability would be curbed after Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule, Bangladesh today described the move as an internal matter.

Dhaka, Kabul, Nov 4 : Hoping that instability would be curbed after Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule, Bangladesh today described the move as an "internal matter."

"As a friendly country, Bangladesh is observing the developments in Pakistan very closely. We view those events as their internal matter," Bangladesh Interim Foreign Minister Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said.

"However, we hope that (it does) not lead to any kind of instability," he added.

Bangladesh has also been ruled by a military-backed government since January, after its President Iajuddin Ahmed declared an emergency and cancelled polls after months of political turmoil.

Expressing its concern over the imposition of emergency in neighbouring Pakistan, the Afghanistan Government said that Pakistan would return to normalcy quickly.

"Security and stability in Pakistan directly affect the situation in Afghanistan and vice versa," Foreign Ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen said.

"We are following the situation in Pakistan with concern and very seriously. We want stability and peace in our neighbouring country. We hope that the situation in Pakistan can become normal quickly," The News quoted Baheen, as saying.

Citing the increasing terrorist activities in the country and the clash between the judiciary with the executive as the reasons, Musharraf imposed a state of emergency yesterday.

ANI