Pakistan-Afghanistan relations under Taliban regime in Kabul

[Runner Up]

Is this news correct?

This guy is none other than Alpha Bravo Charlie guy Captain Gul Sher. According to him I quote "From today, crackdown has started on social media against those who spread false propaganda against Pakistan. Everyone involved is ready to go".

Couldnt find any news related to his claim but if true, then I think it's a good move.

 

[MenInG]

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to continue playing its role for peace and stability in Afghanistan, direly needed not only for its citizens but the entire region following the recent takeover by the Taliban.

Taliban seized control over the weekend in an upheaval that sent thousands of civilians and Afghan military allies fleeing for safety.

“We expect that Taliban will fulfil promises [made] to global community over women and human rights and [ensure that] Afghan territory won’t be used against any other country,” he said while addressing the faculty and cadets of Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul on Friday.

Gen Qamar viewed the flag presentation parade as chief guest and also awarded Battalion Standard to 4th Pakistan Battalion which was raised on October 10, 2016, according to military’s media wing, the ISPR.

The chief of army staff said the country’s sincere efforts to promote and support the Afghan peace process manifest our vision for a peaceful, economically integrated and prosperous region.

“We have unambiguously and repeatedly asked global community to play its part in an inclusive and unbiased Afghan process as well as economic sustenance of Afghanistan,” he stressed.

Pakistan has paid a huge price for instability in Afghanistan, said the army chief.

Despite Pakistan’s own economic challenges, the country has hosted over three million Afghan refugees for more than four decades.

In one of the most important policy speeches covering challenges, opportunities and Pakistan’s response, the COAS covered the country’s present status at international fora, and spoke about struggle and sacrifices with reference to the month of independence. He also spoke in detail about Afghanistan situation, Pakistan’s efforts, future course of action and role of spoilers.

Commenting on future challenges and response of armed forces as the first responders to every challenge, he said PMA is one of finest institutions in the world, entrusted with training of future leadership. He lauded PMA’s role as the premier training institution of the Pakistan Army and commended the faculty and staff for maintaining high standards of training and grooming the young leaders that form the backbone of the army.

The unconquerable resolve of the junior leadership of army is what Pakistan’s enemies dread the most, he remarked. “Pakistan Army is proud of its young officers who continue to lead their men from the front with courage and devotion to defend the freedom of motherland.”

He said today’s Pakistan is strong and progressing well despite living in turbulent times

After independence we not only withstood socio-economic and other challenges, but also defeated terrorism and defended the motherland, he maintained.

“Our matchless national harmony, discipline and imagination to respond to Covid-19 and locust despite the lack of infrastructure and resources is tremendous,” he remarked.

Recalling plight of people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) due to Indian state repression, Gen Qamar said the Kashmiris are under worst military occupation in human history. “Our hearts beat with Kashmiri people,” said COAS, adding that they country will continue to stand with them always and forever.

Regional peace will remain elusive without a just and peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue, said the army chief.

Referring to collective freedom struggle against imperialism by leaders, COAS said people of sub-continent must not forget that the ultimate goal was to secure independent, harmonious and prosperous region where in all new created countries could live peacefully.

Unfortunately those goals today have become hostage to increasing polarisation and radicalisation in our neighbourhood, he said.

“Inimical forces are trying to weaken our society and state through hybrid war… but Pakistan Army is fully cognisant of these challenges and is prepared to tackle them. We will ensure country’s defence by focusing on core competencies and technology.

“Only strong armed forces can guarantee defence of the motherland.”

 

[MenInG]

KABUL: Pakistan envoy to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan says the process of formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan is a “difficult and complex” process, but that both sides are “hopeful” of achieving the goal.

Speaking to Geo News from Kabul, Khan said engagement with the Afghan Taliban was ongoing under the peace process for the last two years and the prime concern of the international community is that only an inclusive government can ensure lasting peace in the war-torn country and if one group tries to enforce its rule, it won't be a lasting one.

He said that since the Ashraf Ghani government was ousted and the Taliban took over, efforts are being made and consultations are underway between the Taliban and Afghan leaders, including former president Hamid Karzai, Dr Abdulla Abdullah and Gulbadin Hekmatyar for the formation of a government.

When asked whether he was hopeful of the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, he said, “I have talked to both sides and my feedback is that they are hopeful of moving closer to that objective in the next few days and we are also hopeful that both parties will try to achieve it, but that it will be a difficult and complex process.”

Sharing his assessment about the hurdles, the Pakistani envoy said it is difficult because there are complex ethnic dimensions in Afghanistan, while the Taliban call themselves representative of Pashtuns, there are non-Pashtun groups as well.

“And when we talk about an inclusive government through political settlement, a major issue is what sort of constitution is acceptable. Both sides have different opinions. Human rights is also an important issue that remains to be discussed and the inclusivity element is also needed to be addressed."

Mansoor Ahmed Khan, who had met the Afghan leaders over the last few days after the Taliban takeover, said he calls it a complex process because bringing all these forces at one point is difficult.

He was also asked about whether the Taliban are showing flexibility in the talks.

To this he said, "the negotiations held with Taliban in the last two years are very clear and the international community's aspirations were conveyed to the Tailban that an inclusive political setup which has rule of law which also respects human rights, women's rights and according to the wishes of the people of Afghanistan will be acceptable to the world.”

The envoy said, in his understanding, the Taliban now realise that the concerns were raised after the exclusive government they established in the 1990s.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said the Muslim ummah should show its traditional solidarity with the Afghan people in their quest for a peaceful, united, stable, and prosperous country.

The foreign minister's comments came during a telephonic conversation with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, in which both sides exchanged views of the rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan, a statement from the Foreign Office said.

The foreign minister emphasised that the international community needed to remain engaged with Afghanistan — through supporting the country’s economy, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and humanitarian needs.

FM Qureshi underscored that Pakistan would continue to play its constructive role in promoting sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Expressing hope that Afghan parties would work for an inclusive political settlement, the foreign minister said the success of negotiations in Kabul would not only benefit Afghanistan but also the region.

The foreign minister stressed the importance of ensuring the safety, security, and protection of the rights of Afghan people, the Foreign Office's statement said.

"Noting the significance of efforts towards establishing an inclusive government, the foreign minister warned about spoilers within and outside Afghanistan who wanted to take advantage of the situation in the country," the statement said.

The foreign minister highlighted the role played by Pakistan in facilitating the evacuation and relocation of personnel of diplomatic missions, international organisations, media, and others from Afghanistan.

FM Qureshi expressed the hope that the talks in Kabul would succeed, leading to an inclusive and participatory government that would bring lasting peace, progress, and prosperity to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Al-Othaimeen apprised Qureshi of the extraordinary meeting of the OIC Executive Meeting that has been convened in Jeddah at the level of ambassadors and permanent representatives tomorrow to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

Turkey appreciates Pakistan's role in Afghanistan
FM Qureshi also called his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu today to exchange views on bilateral relations and the latest situation in Afghanistan, a separate statement from the Foreign Office said.

The foreign minister stated that the recent visit of President Arif Alvi to Turkey for the launching ceremony of the MILGEM Naval Ship further strengthened bilateral cooperation.

The two foreign ministers also recalled the recent telephone conversation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about developments in Afghanistan.

Reiterating Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan, FM Qureshi underlined the importance of an inclusive political solution as the best way forward.

"The foreign minister added that Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) had underscored the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region," the statement said.

The foreign minister also apprised his Turkish counterpart of Pakistan’s facilitative role in the evacuation of personnel of embassies, international organisations, media entities, and others.

Foreign Minister Cavusoglu appreciated Pakistan’s role in the current situation and thanked FM Qureshi for facilitating Turkey’s evacuation efforts, according to the statement.

The two foreign ministers agreed to coordinate closely on the situation in Afghanistan, the statement added.

Qureshi discusses Afghan situation with Russian FM
FM Qureshi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also discussed the situation in Afghanistan, a separate Foreign Office statement said.

FM Qureshi emphasised that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of critical importance for Pakistan and the region and that Pakistan had consistently supported the Afghan peace process, the statement said.

He added that Pakistan and Russia, as part of Troika Plus, had made valuable contributions to these efforts, the statement said, adding that the two foreign ministers agreed to continue working closely through the Troika Plus format.

"The foreign minister further highlighted that an inclusive political settlement was the best way forward for peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan was fully supporting efforts in that direction," the statement said.

The foreign minister also apprised his Russian counterpart of Pakistan’s outreach to regional countries for consultations on dealing with the challenges arising out of developments in Afghanistan.

FM Qureshi also informed his counterpart Lavrov that upon request of several governments, Pakistan was facilitating the evacuation of their diplomatic personnel, staff of international organisations, media, and others from Afghanistan.

On the bilateral plane, FM Qureshi expressed satisfaction at the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations. He reiterated the government’s resolve for early implementation of the agreement on the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project.

"The two Foreign Ministers agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in different areas, enhance high-level exchanges, and remain in close contact on matters relating to Afghanistan," the statement added.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/366370-mu...fghans-fm-qureshi-tells-oic-secretary-general

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kudos to the Pakistani authorities for the tremendous cooperation at Islamabad Airport. Evacuating German citizens & local staff from Afghanistan together with our European allies (esp. the &#55356;&#56819;&#55356;&#56817 would not be possible without it. Bohat Shukria! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakGermanDosti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakGermanDosti</a> <a href="https://t.co/uG5jXGeVMo">pic.twitter.com/uG5jXGeVMo</a></p>— Bernhard Schlagheck (@GermanyinPAK) <a href="https://twitter.com/GermanyinPAK/status/1429680596222193664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said Monday that Pakistan wants an all-inclusive government in Afghanistan and that the country believes stability in Kabul can only come by including all ethnic groups on board as it is ethnically divided.

His comments came during an interview with the BBC during which he said that in a meeting with former president Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister Imran Khan has talked about an inclusive government even before the ongoing situation in Kabul had taken place.

"Our emphasis was on the inclusive government. Unfortunately, if the elections would have been delayed as PM Imran khan suggested earlier and an inclusive government would have been placed, things might be different today," said Fawad.

Fawad added that Pakistan firmly believes stability in Afghanistan can only be achieved through the inclusion of all ethnic groups in the government due to the ethnic diversity in the country.

He added that Pakistan is in touch with the regional powers, the United States and the United Kingdom to discuss the Afghanistan issue.

Speaking about Pakistan's sacrifices rendered, Fawad said: "We have lost 80 thousand people and billions of dollars in the economy because of the Afghan war and the reason why Pakistan is conveniently blamed by others’ fault is that the powers who should have heeded to Pakistan’s advice earlier but Pak advise was overlooked and we have paid the price of this conflict.

He said that as far as the future of Afghanistan is concerned, Pakistan has to work together with the regional and international players for an inclusive government.

"We don’t have controlled influence over Taliban but we can bring Taliban’s on the table of talks with the US," he said adding that Pakistan is also capable of taking on the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"We had a problem with the previous Afghan government as at that time India was using the Afghan soil for funding TTP," he said.

The minister further added that Pakistan welcomes the Taliban’s statement of their land not to be used against any country.

"They have shown the world that Afghanistan will not become the haven for international terrorist organisations. If instability continues in Afghanistan, then hundreds will migrate to Pakistan," he told the publication. That’s one of the reasons we trying our best to avert any instability in Afghanistan."

GEO

 

[MenInG]

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said Pakistan was working for an inclusive, broad-based arrangement in Afghanistan to further peace and stability in the neighbouring country.

“The views of the international community are in sync with the thinking of Pakistan on the present situation in Afghanistan,” said the minister while addressing a news conference.

Qureshi said he held conversations with a number of foreign ministers in previous days and they acknowledged that Pakistan was playing a vital and critical role in these challenging times.

The world was looking towards Pakistan and it wanted help in evacuating their nationals from Afghanistan, he said, adding very few embassies were working in Kabul and the Pakistani embassy was one of them.

"We are keeping an eye on the situation in Afghanistan," he said, adding the international community wanted Pakistan to promote an inclusive arrangement in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan had a number of ethnic groups which had a role to play, he explained.

In recent days the foreign minister had talked to the high representative of the European Union, foreign ministers of Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State of United States Antony Blinken, Secretary General Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) about the situation in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, stressing the need for the international community to restore ties with Afghanistan for the betterment of its people, said that Pakistan only desired a better future for the Afghan people.

In a statement, Qureshi made it clear that Pakistan was not focusing on negotiating with a particular group in Afghanistan, adding: “Pakistan wanted a government in Afghanistan which is broad-based and inclusive.

Stressing the need for the international community to restore ties with Afghanistan for the betterment of its people, he said, Pakistan desired a better future for Afghanistan and supported a conducive environment to help Afghan people achieve the goal of development and prosperity.

Qureshi said he would visit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran to consult with the leadership of the regional countries on the situation of Afghanistan. He warned against the anti-peace elements as “spoilers” who were still active and did not want a lasting peace in the country.

Meanwhile, Qureshi spoke with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed with him the latest Afghan situation, the Foreign Office said in a statement. He underlined that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of critical importance for Pakistan and the region.

Qureshi thanked Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as the current chair of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit, for convening an extraordinary meeting of the Muslim bloc on Sunday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

During the telephonic conversation, the statement said, the foreign minister expressed hope that all the Afghan sides would work for “an inclusive political settlement” to ensure sustainable peace and security in their country and the region.

The statement added that the foreign minister also apprised his Saudi counterpart of Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the evacuation of personnel and staff of diplomatic missions, international organisations, media, and others from Afghanistan.

In the bilateral context, the two foreign ministers reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken during the visit of the Saudi Foreign Minister to Pakistan in July. Expressing satisfaction at the growing momentum in bilateral relations, they agreed to further strengthen their cooperation.

Qureshi also received a telephone call from Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde. During the conversation, he emphasised the international community’s sustained engagement with Afghanistan.

He said that he had been in touch with several European and other foreign ministers during the last few days on the Afghan situation.

“International community must show solidarity and support with the people of Afghanistan, both in the humanitarian arena and economic sustenance,” he added.

The foreign minister apprised Linde of the latest developments in Afghanistan. He said that as a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan was fully facilitating several European countries, international organisations, and media agencies to evacuate their nationals and employees and others from Afghanistan.

“Pakistan’s efforts have been widely acknowledged,” the foreign minister told his Swedish counterpart. He emphasised that the immediate priority was to ensure safety, security, and protection of rights of all Afghans.

 

[OMB]

Qureshi discusses current Afghan situation with Australian counterpart
FM shares country's perspective on inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressed on Tuesday that it was essential for the world community to support the people of Afghanistan and address the humanitarian situation and facilitate economic sustenance.

The foreign minister's remarks came during a telephonic conversation held with his Australian counterpart, Marise Payne, wherein the two top officials discussed the current situation in Afghanistan.

FM Qureshi shared Pakistan’s perspective on the inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.

He highlighted Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating the evacuation of the diplomatic personnel and staff of international organisations and others from Afghanistan.

In the bilateral context, the foreign minister said Pakistan highly valued its relationship with Australia that depends on several strands of collaboration, including political, economic and cultural.

Expressing satisfaction at the current level of engagement, the two foreign ministers agreed on enhancing high-level interactions between the countries.

The Australian foreign minister appreciated the government of Pakistan for its support and facilitation extended to the countries in evacuation from Afghanistan.

Read Afghanistan debacle marks demise of the ‘American Century’

Earlier, Minister Qureshi said Pakistan was working for an inclusive, broad-based arrangement in Afghanistan to further peace and stability in the neighbouring country.

“The views of the international community are in sync with the thinking of Pakistan on the present situation in Afghanistan,” said the minister while addressing a news conference.

Qureshi said he held conversations with a number of foreign ministers in previous days and they acknowledged that Pakistan was playing a vital and critical role in these challenging times.

The world was looking towards Pakistan and it wanted help in evacuating their nationals from Afghanistan, he said, adding very few embassies were working in Kabul and the Pakistani embassy was one of them.

"We are keeping an eye on the situation in Afghanistan," he said, adding the international community wanted Pakistan to promote an inclusive arrangement in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has a number of ethnic groups which have a role to play, he explained.

In recent days the foreign minister spoke about the situation in Afghanistan to the high representative of the European Union, foreign ministers of Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State of United States Antony Blinken, Secretary General Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2316933/qureshi-discusses-current-afghan-situation-with-australian-counterpart

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Those in the west who blamed Pakistan for everything wrong in Afghanistan, are now actually taking refuge in Pakistani consulate in Kabul.

Busses with logo of Pakistani flags are now a guarantee of safety in Kabul. These busses are now being used to transport the foreign refugees in Pakistan embassy Kabul to the airport.

 

[cric_man]

Those in the west who blamed Pakistan for everything wrong in Afghanistan, are now actually taking refuge in Pakistani consulate in Kabul.

Busses with logo of Pakistani flags are now a guarantee of safety in Kabul. These busses are now being used to transport the foreign refugees in Pakistan embassy Kabul to the airport.

EU that has banned PIA to fly into European states, requested PIA to extract 420 odd Euro diplomats and other personnel out of Kabul.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Always remember:

The West will step on you when they want, but they will beg for help when they need it.

Partly because we did a lot of things that made them step on us, but right now, we are in a much better position of power.

Pakistan needs to establish security in the region along with China.

The Taliban have the opportunity to bring great wealth to the nation if they stop acts of terrorism and focus on improving the lives of their citizens. If they continue to work with TTP and ISIS, there is no hope for the country.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Always remember:

The West will step on you when they want, but they will beg for help when they need it.

Partly because we did a lot of things that made them step on us, but right now, we are in a much better position of power.

Pakistan needs to establish security in the region along with China.

The Taliban have the opportunity to bring great wealth to the nation if they stop acts of terrorism and focus on improving the lives of their citizens. If they continue to work with TTP and ISIS, there is no hope for the country.

Both TTP and ISIS are their enemies.

ISIS/Daesh have already "condemned" Taliban and labeled them as "USA's puppets"

 

[OMB]

India's discomfort over turn of events in Afghanistan obvious: Sheikh Rashid

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Wednesday that India’s discomfort over the turn of events in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover was obvious, and the entire world was a witness to how India was "in a state mourning".

Addressing the media in Islamabad, Rashid further remarked that the way India was evacuating its citizens from Afghanistan made its defeat evident.

"Defeat is written on their faces," he said, adding that the credit for India’s "defeat" went to the Pakistani nation and its institutions.

The minister said Pakistan had been paying the price of disorder in Afghanistan for years and wanted peace to be restored there as it realised that "peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan".

In reply to a question, he referred to statements by Taliban spokespersons Zabiullah Mujahid and Suhail Shaheen, expressing hope that the Taliban would stay true to their word of not letting Afghanistan's soil being used against any country, including Pakistan.

Authorities in Pakistan have been critical of India for increasing its influence in Afghanistan and using its soil against Pakistan.

The lastest remarks in this respect by Rashid follow those of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who said on Tuesday that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was in a state of "disarray" after Indian funding for the militant outfit had stopped.

"We should be satisfied to know with regards to the TTP that for the first time the process of Indian funding [to them] — which had been going on for a long time — has ended and at this time they are in disarray,” Fawad had said in a press conference.

In the same press conference, the information minister told media persons that a cabinet meeting had been held to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, where it was stated that "India should stay clear of interference in Afghanistan. India has no border with Afghanistan."

He said India had used Afghanistan's land against Pakistan and "at this time too we are seeing a continuous effort visible on Indian media that the Afghan peace process is sabotaged."

A day ago, former Afghan prime minister and Hizb-i-Islami (HI) chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar had also asked India not to fight the Kashmir war from Afghan soil.

“New Delhi should focus on its internal issues instead of issuing statements regarding the future of Afghanistan,” Hekmatyar had said while talking to the media in Kabul.

He had added that New Delhi should respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

'Not the time for domestic politics'
Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Rashid also commented on the opposition, particularly the Pakistan Democratic Movement.

"My only advice to them is that this region is gaining importance globally and this is not the time for domestic politics," he said, implying that the opposition needed to change its strategy and work on a broader canvas.

"The rest is up to them, but they cannot remove [Prime Minister Imran] by taking out rallies," he said. "Imran Khan will complete his five-year tenure."

He added that he did not see the opposition putting up a united front in the coming days, and that it now needed to start preparing for the 2023 general elections.

The interior minister also assured that steps were being taken to improve security surveillance in Islamabad.

He said 1,152 cameras would be installed in the capital and eight drones had been bought for the purpose.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1642549/indias-discomfort-over-turn-of-events-in-afghanistan-obvious-sheikh-rashid

 

[MenInG]

Russian President Vladmir Putin Wednesday spoke to Prime Minister Imran Khan over the phone on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and bilateral relations, as per the Prime Minister's Office.

PM Imran Khan told Putin that a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan was important for Pakistan and vital for the region. He said that an inclusive political settlement, coupled with the safety and security of Afghans, was the best way forward.

The prime minister stressed that the international community must stay engaged in Afghanistan to support its masses, adding that the world needs to address its humanitarian crisis and ensure economic sustenance.

Prime Minister Khan said Pakistan attached high importance to the role of the Troika Plus format. He expressed satisfaction over the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations, with increased high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse fields between the two countries.

The prime minister reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen trade relations and bilateral collaboration in the energy sector, including the early realisation of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project. The two leaders agreed to closely cooperate within the SCO to promote regional peace and security.

During the telephonic conversation between the two leaders, PM Khan invited Putin to visit Pakistan.

Putin phones Xi Jinping, speak on preventing 'spread of instability to adjacent regions'
The Russian president also spoke to his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, on the need to prevent instability from spreading to other parts of the region, as per a statement from the Kremlin.

In a phone call, the two leaders "expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanistan," the Kremlin said.

According to international media reports, Putin and Xi "agreed to intensify bilateral contacts" and "make the most of the potential" of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that is due to convene for a summit in Tajikistan next month.

Several ex-Soviet republics in Central Asia -- where Moscow holds military bases -- share a border with Afghanistan and China. While Moscow has been cautiously optimistic about the new leadership in Kabul, Putin has warned of Afghan militants entering neighbouring countries as refugees.

The two leaders also spoke about the coronavirus situation, with Jinping saying that China is ready to work with Russia to deepen cooperation on vaccine development and production and ensure the safety and stability of the global supply chain for vaccines, to protect the lives and health of the two peoples and contribute to the building of a community of common health for mankind.

“Only the wearer knows whether the shoes fit or not,” Xi stressed, saying that it is the people of the two countries who have the most say about which system works in their own country. “As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia should deepen cooperation against interference and firmly hold their respective national future in their own hands,” Xi said.

He said China firmly supports Russia in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions, and firmly supports Russia's measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and security.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/367139-pu...-to-discuss-evolving-situation-in-afghanistan

 

[Lonewarrior]

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls Imran Khan to discuss Afghan issue

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday stressed the importance of adopting coordinated approaches to address the evolving situation in Afghanistan, saying that Pakistan gave "high importance" to the role of the Troika Plus format.

Pakistan and Russia, along with the United States and China, are known as the Extended Troika on Peaceful Settlement in Afghanistan and have held multiple meetings this year on the situation in the war-torn country.

Prime Minister Imran, who received a call from Putin today, exchanged views on the Afghan situation as well as bilateral relations with the Russian president, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1642580/in-call-with-putin-pm-imran-stresses-coordinated-approaches-to-evolving-afghan-situation

Indian media is silent, except one or two news outlet, no one publish this news, even not on thre youtube channels ..... lol

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Pakistan are expecting a huge number of incoming refugees.

Pak Government has asked all hotels in Islamabad area to be ready and cancel reservations for next 21 days (at least)


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">پاکستان کے دارالحکومت اسلام آباد میں ہنگامی صورتحال<br>اسلام آباد انتظامیہ نے شہر کے تمام ہوٹلوں کو مقامی بکنگ ختم کرنے کا حکم دیا ہے، اور کابل سے اسلام آباد آنے والے ہزاروں لوگوں کو جگہ فراہم کرنے کےلیے تیار رہنے کا کہا ہے <a href="https://t.co/rhWNcQsERV">pic.twitter.com/rhWNcQsERV</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1430971063974993920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Markhor]

If Afghans wishes to live under a group of barbarians or a bunch of corrupt warlords, that's up to them.

Pakistan must prevent another post-1989 situation and ensure the border is watertight. Another massive influx of refugees would be disasterous.

For Afghanistan's sake, I hope Taliban 2.0 realise governing like they did in the 1990s is a nonstarter given the world is even more interconnected now and their wartorn economy desperately needs international funds. Their overtures to Shias is promising but time will tell.

The reaction of liberal interventionists in the west meanwhile is so out of touch with ordinary people who overwhelmingly support Biden's Withdrawal. Someone tell Rory Stewart, Tony Blair and co that you had 20 years in Afghanistan - and the useless army you built collapsed in weeks. Get your tinhat and bayonet and fly out there yourselves instead of asking other peoples' kids to shed their blood.

 

[mazkhan]

So Islamabad is going to be flooded by afghans who hate pakistan in first place .

This is gonna be another blunder by ik for opening the floodgates.

This pti along with that idle bajwa are gonna destroy pakistan by the time they leave .

 

[MenInG]

Chief of the UK Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) Richard Moore called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed matters of mutual interests particularly evolving situation in Afghanistan, military said in a statement issued late Thursday.

“During the meeting matters of mutual and professional interests, intelligence/defence collaboration between both countries and overall regional security, with special emphasis on post-US withdrawal in Afghanistan came under discussion,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

During the meeting, the army chief said that Pakistan is helping achieve peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. “Pakistan is willing to do whatever is possible to help Afghanistan achieve an inclusive settlement which is vital for regional peace and prosperity,” the statement quoted Gen Qamar as saying.

The MI6 chief expressed his appreciation for Pakistan’s untiring efforts towards regional peace and stability, it added.

Last week, while addressing the faculty and cadets during a visit to the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul, Gen Qamar reiterated that Pakistan wanted national and regional peace and development, and would continue to play its role for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The army chief said that peace in Afghanistan was essential to the region, especially to the people of Afghanistan. “We will continue to play our role for peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he said. “Pakistan wants national and regional peace and development.”

Speaking in the context of the latest Afghan situation, the army chief said: “We expect the Taliban to live up to the promises made to the international community of women and human rights and that Afghan soil will not be used against any other country.”

The chief of army staff noted that Pakistan had paid a heavy price for the unrest in Afghanistan. Despite its economic woes, he added, Pakistan had sheltered more than 3 million Afghan refugees for four decades.

“Pakistan’s sincere efforts in the Afghanistan peace process are for the establishment of a region that is a peaceful, prosperous and economic partner,” he said. “We have consistently made it clear to the international community that it must play a role in finding a peaceful solution to Afghanistan.”

 

[MenInG]

At the start of his briefing, the spokesperson also said that he would talk about the evolving situation in Afghanistan and its implied security-related issues that Pakistan could face. He added that he would elaborate upon the measures taken by the security forces in Pakistan to mitigate any "spillover" into Pakistan.

The military spokesperson further stated that the government in Islamabad and the military leadership of the country never doubted that peace in Afghanistan was linked to regional peace, especially in Pakistan.

However, he said, as the situation in war-torn Afghanistan moved at a rapid pace, Pakistan had already taken the necessary measures to guard the border and ensure security in the country.

Maj Gen Iftikhar elaborated that Pakistan had reached out to Afghanistan on multiple occasions to formalise border mechanisms, as it was felt that was the answer to the instability existing along the Pak-Afghan border.

However, the Afghan government under Ghani did not reciprocate these initiatives.

The spokesperson further said that several high-level visits, including by army chief General Bajwa, were undertaken and added that mechanisms were offered for the training of Afghan soldiers in the military training institutions of Pakistan, but "only six cadets came to Pakistan while thousands of soldiers and officers were trained in India".

Maj Gen Iftikhar added that Pakistan Army has conducted multiple counter-insurgency operations on the western border and a massive capacity enhancement initiative was started in 2017.

"We raised more than 60 wings of FC in Balochistan and KP as the force is manning the border amid a spike in cross-border attacks."

"The border fence was a massive undertaking. Just to start this project was a massive initiative, but now more than 90 per cent of the border is fenced."

Speaking further about the border with Afghanistan, the DG said the situation was "fairly normal" along the border as the army took every possible step to maintain security. Gen Iftikhar said that other than the people of Afghanistan, Pakistanis have been the biggest target of violence in Afghanistan.

"There are no major incidents along the border, but this doesn't mean nothing will happen; we are aware of the threat and fully prepared to thwart it," he added.

Responding to a question about the banned terrorist organisation TTP, the military spokesperson maintained that the group used Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan with the help of "spoilers".

"The situation on the other side of the border was very fluid. We believe the Taliban government will take effective measures to ensure that TTP doesn't use Afghan soil to target Pakistan or other countries."

He further said that the militant group no longer has any infrastructure or organisational presence in Pakistan anymore. Iftikhar added that the country had been "repeatedly cautioning the world about the negative role played by spoilers" in Afghanistan, which were continuing to do so still.

Elaborating, the spokesperson said that while the country's armed forces were conducting security operations on the western border, there were "massive" ceasefire violations (CFVs) on its eastern border.

When asked if the establishment of an Islamic emirate in Afghanistan will affect Pakistan, Gen Iftikhar said the Constitution of the country is already Islamic in accordance with the wishes of the Pakistani people.

"Whatever has happened in Afghanistan, we need to understand the role of India. Whatever investments India made in Afghanistan, it was all done with the sole intention to harm Pakistan. They have no love lost for Afghan people or Afghanistan."

The military spokesperson added that Indian intelligence agency RAW was responsible for cobbling up alliances between TTP and the militant Islamic State group.

Gen Iftikhar clarified that no refugees are pouring into Pakistan. "Border crossing is not closed, but Pakistan is only allowing Afghans who have documents. People are moving on both sides of the border with proper documents, it is not free for all."

There is reason to be optimistic the way things are, he said, while talking about the ties with the future Afghan government.

When asked about the recent attacks on Chinese nationals, he said that security would be beefed up if needed and the interior ministry was responsible for their protection.

 

[MenInG]

WASHINGTON: Pakistan is crucial for any sustainable solution in Afghanistan, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stressed late Friday night, as the situation in the country evolves rapidly with the withdrawal of foreign troops.

The Republican lawmaker's comments came after his discussion with Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan, where both sides exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan.

The US lawmaker termed the region as "complicated" and the times as "dangerous", two days after explosions rocked Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul leaving more than 100 dead.

Read more: ADB lauds Pakistan's role in evacuations from Afghanistan

"We all must remember Pakistan is a nuclear-armed nation, and there is a Pakistan version of the Taliban who wishes [to] topple the Pakistani government and military," Graham said.

Graham also appreciated the Pakistani government's efforts to help evacuate people aspiring to flee Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover — despite a general amnesty from the group.

"Very much appreciate the efforts of the Pakistani government to assist with the evacuation of US citizens, our allies, and other nations," the US lawmaker said.

Responding to Graham's tweets, the Pakistani ambassador said he had spoken to the senator on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and briefed him on Pakistan's efforts to support evacuations from Afghanistan.


Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar, addressing a press briefing on the Afghanistan issue a day earlier, said that apart from international organisations and media, Pakistan had facilitated as many as 5,538 foreign nationals from 24 countries.

Later on Friday, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa reiterated Pakistan had no favourites in Afghanistan.

The army chief's comments came during a detailed discussion with US chargé d'affaires to Pakistan Angela Ageler over the war-torn country's situation, at the General Headquarter in Rawalpindi, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

"Pakistan has no favourites in Afghanistan and our sole aim is helping achieve peaceful, sovereign, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan," the army chief told the US ambassador.

'Inclusive political settlement best course forward'

In addition, two days ago, while speaking to President European Council Charles Michel, Prime Minister Imran Khan highlighted the positive role of Pakistan in facilitating the evacuation of diplomatic personnel and staff of international organisations and others from Afghanistan.

At this, the President of the European Council thanked the prime minister for hosting evacuees in transit.

The prime minister shared Pakistan’s perspective, stressing that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan was in the vital interest of Pakistan and the region.

Read more: 'Something can happen' at Afghanistan border but Pakistan is 'ready'

The prime minister underscored the importance of ensuring safety and security as well as protection of the rights of all Afghans.

"An inclusive political settlement is the best course forward."

Expressing hope that the Afghan leaders would continue to work together to achieve that end, the premier reaffirmed that Pakistan would steadfastly support all efforts in this direction.

GEO

 

[OMB]

Pakistan pushing world to give Taliban a chance

FM Qureshi likely to undertake more visits to countries having stakes in Afghanistan

Since the fall of Kabul, Pakistan has been quietly engaging with key international and regional stakeholders with a message that Afghanistan should not be left alone and the incoming government there, likely to be led by the Afghan Taliban, should be given a chance.

Officials familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that there was a considered view among the policymakers in Pakistan that the international community must not prejudge the Taliban.

This was the message Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi carried during his recent four-nation visit that took him to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. He is likely to undertake more visits to the countries, having stakes in Afghanistan’s future.

But the officials said while Pakistan had been advocating support for the new setup in Afghanistan, this did not mean that it was not asking the Afghan Taliban to form an inclusive and broad-based government. So far, the officials added, the Taliban have given positive signals.

Al-Jazeera, a Doha based Qatari channel, has reported that the Taliban are working on a plan to set up an inclusive caretaker government. The interim setup will include members not just from the Taliban but also from other ethnicities and groups, it added.

“This is exactly what we have been telling the Afghan Taliban,” said a senior Pakistani official, who believes that before any international recognition the Taliban need domestic acceptance too. “And that is possible only if they [Taliban] take along all the ethnic groups in the country,” the official added.

Foreign Minister Qureshi confirmed in a statement on Saturday that Pakistan was in touch with the Afghan Taliban leadership for the way forward. He said the Taliban were giving positive signals. “If they [Taliban] are giving positive signals the world must encourage them,” the foreign minister stressed.

He also urged the international community to avoid any repeat of past mistakes and do not leave Afghanistan alone. “If Afghanistan is left alone that would be a disaster for everyone,” he said, stressing the need for remaining engaged with a country that has been at war for the last four decades.

Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan also sought the world’s support for the Afghan Taliban. He had said that the Taliban were doing exactly what the world had been asking for. Imran added the Taliban had promised to respect human and women rights, agreed to an inclusive government and not to let Afghan soil be used again by terrorists.

His key cabinet member Asad Umar expressed similar views on Saturday, seeking international financial assistance for an imminent Taliban government.

“The world must not repeat the mistake it made after the Soviet withdrawal. This is the time for the global community to engage and not isolate Afghanistan. A fraction of the money spent on the war in Afghanistan, spent honestly on development can enhance global security,” he tweeted.

Since the Afghan Taliban took over Kabul, the United States and other Western countries froze all financial assistance, something that would make it extremely difficult for the incoming government to run the affairs.

Pakistan, nevertheless, is hoping that the move is temporary and when the government takes shape in the neighbouring country the international community would revisit its strategy.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2317629/pakistan-pushing-world-to-give-taliban-a-chance

 

[MenInG]

National Security Adviser Moeed Yousaf warned the world against abandoning Afghanistan again on Monday, and urged the global community to engage with the new setup for the sake of ordinary Afghans.

“We are saying to the world engage with Afghanistan for the sake of the average Afghan in your selfish national interest… Not as a favour to Afghanistan or anybody,” Moeed said while addressing a presentation session on the Afghanistan conflict.

He said that from Pakistan’s perspective the “world has a simple choice: go back to the 90s, make the same mistake again and get the same result... don’t expect a different result from the same policy”.

According to Moeed, it was time for the global community to learn from the “collective mistakes” for the sake of Afghanistan’s future and regional stability.

He stated that in the 1990s, after the withdrawal of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan, the US turned on Pakistan and imposed sanctions on the country. Pakistan went from being an ally to a former ally and then a sanctioned country, he said alluding to the Pressler Amendment that barred military and economic assistance to Pakistan.

Read ‘Treat Pakistan like an ally, not a scapegoat’, NSA tells US

Moeed said the US president, George Bush, formally acknowledged that a mistake was made by abandoning Pakistan and Afghanistan because it left a security vacuum filled by al-Qaeda and other militant groups.

The NSA said that Afghanistan spiralled into total chaos as he referred to the presence of global terror outfits in the country due to the security vacuum. He said the average Afghans and Pakistanis were “betrayed” by the US and the western world.

According to Moeed, the policymakers in Washington agreed that the US made a “huge mistake by breaking ties with the Pakistani military” as by doing so, the US and the west lost contact with the situation on the ground.

Due to the West's actions, the US and the west went from being the “leading patron to an untrusted, selfish foreign power”, Moeed said quoting people on the ground.

After the US invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan overnight became the most important ally of the US. The US president at the time said that the US will “never abandon Pakistan again”. Pakistan sacrificed thousands of lives in the war on terror led by the US, he said, adding that fingers were still being pointed at Pakistan despite all its help.

'Learn from mistakes'

In 2002, Joe Biden admitted that the US abandoned Afghanistan that led to the disintegration of the country, whereas Hilary Clinton said that the US will “stand with Afghanistan always”, Mooed said.

He added that the average Afghans are asking whether the US and its allies will stand by the 40 million population instead of the few fortunate ones who helped the US and NATO missions and were being evacuated.

Pakistan is hoping for an inclusive government in Afghanistan for the sake of ordinary Afghans, the NSA said, adding that it would bring stability to the country.

He said the international community should assist Afghanistan in economic and governance matters to avoid the collapse of the state. “We are not going on our own… let’s come up with a way to figure out what the right terms for the recognition are,” he added.

Read Internal UN document says Taliban threatened, beat staff

“Please don’t miss the opportunity that the Taliban have basically made the right statement so far. They are actually trying very hard to signal to everybody that they want legitimacy. So that may be a window of opportunity to engage with… result [of this engagement] I don’t know... but that is a window of opportunity,” Moeed stressed, urging the world to engage with the Taliban.

He said the world can intervene to stop the displacement of Afghan refugees, adding that a refugee crisis can be prevented.

According to the NSA, the world can influence an inclusive government in Afghanistan, ensure basic human rights are being met and avert a humanitarian crisis by engaging with Afghanistan.

“If we abandon Afghanistan again, there will be a security vacuum and there will be international terrorists who will find space there,” he said. He cautioned that if the economy collapses in the absence of international assistance, there will be another conflict leading to another humanitarian crisis.

 

[MenInG]

With the two-decade-long US occupation of Afghanistan over, Pakistan seeks a negotiated political settlement that leads to the formation of an inclusive administration in its conflict-ridden northeastern neighbour.

Contrary to the narrative being weaved against it by certain quarters, Pakistan’s top diplomat in Kabul said Islamabad is committed to an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.

“After decades of conflict, Afghanistan needs a comprehensive political settlement for lasting peace and stability,” said Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan.

Reiterating Islamabad’s stance, Ambassador Khan stated: “Pakistan has always said that there is no military solution. There has to be a negotiated settlement that is widely accepted within Afghanistan.”

While the US and other western countries struggled with the final exit from Afghanistan on Tuesday, Pakistan continued to rescue Afghans and other nationals. According to Khan, who is one of the four ambassadors currently stationed in the Afghan capital, Islamabad has always stepped up to the challenge when it comes to Afghanistan, and that, he said, defines the special relationship between the two countries.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan not only share the longest border, they are also closely connected in many ways. We have the same religion on both sides of the border, we have the same culture, same language in many areas, and our people are very similar,” the diplomat said during the no holds barred interview.

Since the collapse of the Western-backed Ashraf Ghani government in Kabul more than two weeks ago, analysts in the US and elsewhere have been quick to blame Pakistan for the failure in Afghanistan. Some, including a known Bush administration neo-conservative, John Bolton, aimed his guns at Pakistan in a recently penned op-ed piece.

Bolton, who also served as Donald Trump’s national security adviser went on to say that Pakistan has always been a supporter of the Taliban. In the piece, the Bush-era war-hawk took several potshots at the government in Islamabad.

Ambassador Khan, however, rejects all such accusations against Pakistan.

Responding to a question about Islamabad’s role in Kabul, the diplomat, in a firm and unequivocal manner, said that a stable Afghanistan was in the best interest of Pakistan and the entire region.

“Peace and stability in Afghanistan means peace and stability in Pakistan. It means, economic growth, economic engagement and interaction for both countries,” explained Khan over phone from Kabul.

The diplomat said Pakistan has suffered consistently during the decades long conflict in Afghanistan. “We have suffered the most from the Afghan conflict. Islamabad and Kabul will benefit once there is peace and when the dust settles on the other side of the border.”

Optimistic about the ongoing efforts to form an inclusive government in Kabul, the ambassador said once lasting peace is achieved in Afghanistan, both nations could benefit from economic exchanges and greater connectivity. “Given the changing dynamics in the region, a peaceful Afghanistan can benefit more than an unstable Afghanistan,” he added.

Afghanistan, Ambassador Khan said, is standing at a crossroads. “We can collectively help Afghans, bring an end to the internal conflict through a participative process, through an inclusive political process that leads to the formation of a new political system, a new government, which has participation of all ethnic groups,” explained Ambassador Khan. The new government, he said, will have to earn the confidence of the Afghan people and respect all international norms to gain greater recognition.

Once Afghanistan has peace, the ambassador said, the country will usher into an era of economic stability. “Peace in Afghanistan will enable greater connection between South Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Eurasia,” said Khan.

Presenting a forecast of the future, the envoy said Afghanistan could connect with the rest of the world using Pakistan’s ports. “And through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Afghanistan could also benefit in terms of infrastructure,” the envoy added.

Western analysts who have been commenting on the Taliban’s sweeping victory in Afghanistan and the subtle assurances from Beijing, have already declared the situation as a victory for China. “It is an opportunity for Beijing to extend its influence across the region,” said Shuli Ren, Bloomberg Opinion columnist, in her latest article about the abrupt US exit from Afghanistan for more than two decades. Based on Ambassador Khan’s assessment from Kabul, Ren’s prediction may even come true for Beijing.

When asked what are Pakistan’s hopes for its war-torn neighbour, the ambassador said: “We hope that Afghanistan will utilize this historic opportunity in order to bring an end to decades of conflict, and enter into an era of peace, progress, and prosperity, not only for itself, but for regional peace, progress, and stability.”

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://news.sky.com/story/afghanistan-west-must-engage-with-taliban-or-risk-new-civil-war-warns-pakistans-foreign-minister-12396487

Afghanistan could descend into another civil war if the West fails to "engage" with the Taliban, Pakistan's foreign minister has told Sky News.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi warned of potential "anarchy" and a resurgent threat of terrorism as he criticised the West's exit strategy, saying there was a failure to listen to Pakistan's concerns about ending the war in Afghanistan and as a result the withdrawal was not "responsible or orderly".

But he also said the initial statements from the extreme Islamist group have been "positive" and "encouraging", and he hoped the Taliban would work towards creating an "inclusive government" in the multi-ethnic state.

He said: "One option is engagement as opposed to isolation, you know we've withdrawn, let's wash our hands, we've done our bit, we leave.

"That's a dangerous option. That's an option of abandonment of Afghan people.

"That's the mistake that was committed in the 90s. I would urge the international community not to repeat the same mistake again."

He added that it was in the group's interest to act responsibly and hoped they had changed.

"They should have learned from their mistakes," he said. "And I think the attitude and the approach they are taking is reflective of a different approach."

"What I'm saying is test them before trusting them. They're big statements but let's see if they live up to them and if they do, then build on it because the other option is far worse.

"If they're sensible, they should in my view respect international opinion and international norms. Why? They need assistance, they will be in charge, if they will be in charge they will need humanitarian assistance, they will need financial assistance, otherwise you will see an economic collapse."

But many Afghans are frightened about how their new rulers will behave.

The country has bitter memories and is fearful of a repeat of what happened when the extremists last ran the country between 1996 and 2001.

As the last American flight left Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the victory was a "lesson for other invaders", but emphasised the group wanted "good diplomatic relations" with the US and the rest of the world.

After 20 years of bitter war and then a humiliating defeat, the West is now in a dilemma about what to do next.

But the policy choices are few and none are very desirable: cooperating with a sworn enemy against a potential bigger threat such as ISIS-K, or isolating the Taliban as international pariahs for their brutality and treatment of women.

The foreign minister warns the "consequences of abandonment" are dangerous.

"It could lead to a civil war," he said.

"Things could become chaotic, there could be anarchy, and that will give space to the organisations we all dread: the international terrorist organisation that we do not want their footprint to grow in Afghanistan."

There is another major issue, a massive, worsening humanitarian crisis looming in the war-ravaged country.

The World Food Programme says one in three Afghans are already going hungry as the nation faces its worst drought in 30 years.

Added to that, Afghanistan is facing bankruptcy as it is heavily reliant on foreign aid, but giving money to a Taliban government would not only be an endorsement, it would also help bankroll their regime.

Pakistan's government is clear on this issue, though - there is no room for the "abandonment" and the world needs to come together for the Afghan people.

The stakes are extremely high for Islamabad. Neighbouring Afghanistan, it says, already hosts nearly four million refugees and can't afford another major crisis on its borders.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan on Wednesday rejected accusations by a US congressman against Islamabad over the fall of Kabu, saying the former Afghan government collapsed due to its internal problems.

In a letter addressed to the Republican Congressman Michael G. Waltz, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington Asad Majeed Khan said his country's leadership consistently said it has no favourites in Afghanistan and would work with any government that has the support of Afghan people.

"The swift collapse of the Afghan government has, if anything, proven the futility of investing more effort and money into finding a military solution to a political problem," Majeed wrote in his letter also posted on Twitter.

On August 13, Waltz sent a letter to US President Joe Biden, stating: “The United States should leverage our resources to influence Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s military strategy is dictating the Taliban. At the least, Pakistan is complicit with Taliban advance and is choosing not to coordinate with the ANSF. At worst, the Pakistani military and intelligence services may be directly aiding the Taliban offensive. Accordingly, the United States must immediately cut off all aid to Pakistan. Additionally, I ask that your administration also consider sanctioning Pakistan unless they change course and make greater efforts to prevent the Taliban from using their border region to regroup between firefights.”

“The contention that Pakistan’s ‘military strategy’ was somehow the decisive factor in the defeat of the 300,000-strong Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) – trained and equipped at the cost of at least $83 billion to the American taxpayer – does not square with the US government’s own assessments about the issues of low morale, desertions, and ‘ghost soldiers’ that had long plagued the ANDSF,” Majeed noted.

"It is, therefore, unfortunate that your letter mischaracterises Pakistan's role in Afghanistan," he said, adding that his country continued to support the formation of a broad-based government in Kabul that represents Afghanistan's ethnic diversity.

“It may interest you to learn that on the very day that President Ghani abandoned his people and fled abroad, Pakistan was hosting a diverse group of Afghan politicians as part of its continuing efforts to promote a common understanding on Afghanistan's political future," the ambassador added.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan after taking the control of the capital Kabul on Aug. 15, forcing the president and other top officials to leave the country.

On Tuesday, Biden said the assumption that the Afghan government would be able to hold on for a period of time beyond military drawdown turned out not to be accurate.

"We were ready when they and the people of Afghanistan watched their own government collapse and their president flee amid the corruption and malfeasance, handing over the country to their enemy, the Taliban, and significantly increasing the risk to US personnel and our Allies," he said.

On Monday, the UN Security Council (UNSC) urged the "rapid and secure" reopening of the airport serving Kabul after the US forces complete their withdrawal.

The UNSC resolution called on the relevant parties to work with international partners to take steps to strengthen security and prevent further casualties.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan shuts key border crossing with Afghanistan

Pakistan on Thursday temporarily closed a key border crossing with Afghanistan, apparently due to fear of the influx of refugees eager to leave their homeland after the Taliban seized power last month.

Chaman border crossing - the second-largest commercial border point with Afghanistan after the Torkham commercial town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - has been closed due to security threats, Geo News reported, citing sources. (PTI)

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab reached Islamabad Thursday night for a two-day visit to Pakistan to discuss bilateral ties and the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban swept the country.

The UK official is in Pakistan till September 3.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi will hold official talks with Secretary of State Dominic Raab. The talks will cover the evolving situation in Afghanistan and bilateral matters.

Foreign Secretary Raab is also scheduled to have an interaction at the leadership level, the Foreign Office said in a statement. He will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa.

 

[MenInG]

The Taliban have heaped praise on Pakistan for its longstanding contributions towards the people of Afghanistan, the country that is passing through a crucial time following the end of 20-year-long war imposed by the United States and its allies.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, hoped that Pakistan would continue its assistance. He was speaking at Pak-Afghan Youth Forum’s International Conference, titled “Rebuilding Afghanistan Together”.

He hoped that Pakistan’s help to the Afghan nation will continue in terms of its peace efforts and increasing bilateral trade and commerce.

He reiterated that there would be no threat to Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Mujahid said the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by linking it with Afghanistan is very important.

A day earlier, the Taliban spokesperson in an interview with an Italian newspaper said that China will be their “major partner” in efforts to rebuilt war-torn Afghanistan.

He said China is ready to make the investment in Afghanistan and help rebuild Afghanistan.

He clearly stated the Taliban value China’s Belt and Road Initiative as the multibillion-dollar project will revive the ancient Silk Road.

Mujahid said that China is also a “passport” for Afghanistan to reach international markets, adding that the neighbouring country will help them to utilise its rich copper resources.

Calling Russian an important partner in the region, he said that Kabul will maintain good relations with Moscow.

The Taliban spokesperson said that Turkey and Qatar are helping them in resumption of flight operation at the Kabul airport.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2318449/there-will-be-no-threat-to-pakistan-from-afghanistan-zabihullah

 

[MenInG]

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that the Afghan Taliban were under Pakistan's influence but not its control.

In a statement, the minister maintained that the situation in Afghanistan was not so bad for people to leave the country, clarifying that Afghan refugees had not yet entered Pakistan.

Fawad added that Pakistan wanted the situation in Afghanistan to remain stable. “We are trying to get the Kabul Airport operational soon,” he added.

The information minister stated that Pakistan's proposal on Afghanistan had been ignored before by former president Ashraf Ghani’s administration, as Prime Minister Imran Khan had suggested, to the now overthrown government, to not hold elections.

“He [Ashraf Ghani] did not accept the prime minister's suggestion and the situation is for everyone to see today,” the minister said.

Earlier, the minister said that Pakistan was working with regional and international powers for an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan's efforts for an inclusive government in Afghanistan must be supported," the minister said in an interview with TRT World.

The information minister further said that forming a government in Afghanistan was the responsibility of the Afghan people but the regional powers would also have to stabilise the country.

"Pakistan and Turkey are important players in this issue. Both the countries are actually partners in peace as far as Afghanistan is concerned," he said.

Fawad also warned that if the world repeated the mistake of abandoning Afghanistan again a space will be created for extremist organisations right at the border of Pakistan, which would be "hugely worrisome for us".

"When the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, we had to deal with the problems left behind and now when the US and NATO forces are leaving Afghanistan we are again in a quagmire," he stated.

The information minister added that if Afghanistan did not achieve stability, millions of Afghans would start moving towards Pakistan.

"Pakistan is already hosting 3.5 million Afghan refugees and our economy can not bear the burden of more refugees," he stressed.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs Dominic Raab on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed on the need for the international community to stand in solidarity with the Afghans.

The meeting, held at the Prime Minister Office in Islamabad, revolved around the latest developments in Afghanistan, as well as bilateral matters and regional and international issues, according to a statement by the Prime Minister Office.

Recalling his telephonic conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, PM Imran Khan shared Pakistan’s perspective on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, said the statement.

He also underscored the importance of a peaceful, secure, and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region's stability.

PM Imran Khan, according to the statement, noted that it is "critical to stabilise the security situation in Afghanistan, take steps to consolidate peace, and preclude any mass exodus".

In this context, preventing a humanitarian crisis and stabilising the economy were of utmost importance, the premier said.

PM Imran Khan stressed that the international community stand in solidarity with the Afghans, undertake positive engagements and create incentives for ensuring a peaceful, stable, and inclusive polity in the country.

He also warned about the role of "spoilers", both inside and outside Afghanistan, which could destabilise the situation.

Moreover, the prime minister sensitised the UK side on the gross human rights violations in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the inhumane snatching away of the mortal remains of senior Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Geelani.

While discussing bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UK, PM Imran Khan noted the long-standing relationship between the two sides and "strong people-to-people ties".

He also expressed concerns about Pakistan’s retention on UK's travel red list which has caused inconvenience to individuals bearing nationalities of both countries.

In addition, matters relating to climate change, peace and stability in the sub-continent, and global geopolitical situation were also discussed in the meeting.

The UK foreign secretary shared details about his meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and said Pakistan and Britain will "work closely together" on the Afghan issue.

"Pakistan is a vital partner for the UK, and today Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and I discussed how to ensure safe passage out of Afghanistan and the importance of a co-ordinated international response," read the post.

Earlier in the day, Raab held a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, where he signalled the UK's intent to engage with the Taliban government in Afghanistan,

He reached Islamabad Thursday night for a two-day visit to Pakistan to discuss bilateral ties and the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban swept the country.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Saturday arrived in Kabul to meet with the Taliban representatives and discuss matters related to the safe evacuation of foreign nationals, border management and security in the region, sources said.

The intelligence chief will spend a day in the Afghan capital, sources said, adding he is meeting and working with Pakistan’s Ambassador Mansoor Ahmed Khan and his team on issues of repatriation and transit through Pakistan and the situation on the border.

Since the Taliban came into power last month thousands of foreign nationals have been evacuated from the war-ravaged country with Pakistan’s help. The Pakistani embassy in Kabul had been working 24/7 to assist in the evacuation efforts.

According to the sources, the ISI chief will discuss matters with the Taliban related to the issue of pending requests from countries and international organizations for repatriation/transit through Pakistan.

He will also deliberate on the need to determine a mechanism through which Islamabad could allow these, in coordination with the ground authorities in Afghanistan.

Sources said that border management is another important issue that will come under discussion during the day-long visit of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.

The officials, according to sources, will look into the matter to ensure that the mechanism under which Afghans cross over the border on a daily basis as routine and then return, runs smoothly and only those allowed to avail this facility do so.

They said that the Western media reports suggesting huge refugee inflow or pressure at Pakistan borders from Afghanistan are “incorrect”.

DG ISI will also hold discussions on the overall security issue to ensure that spoilers and terrorist organisations do not take advantage of the situation.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

KABUL: The Chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed met the Hezb-e-Islami leader and former Afghan prime minister, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and Taliban leaders in Kabul, Geo News on Sunday.

According to the reports of Afghan media, the ISI chief and Hekmatyar shared views regarding the anticipated inclusive government in Afghanistan.

The Taliban are due to form an inclusive government within days and the group’s co-founder Mullah Baradar is likely to head the new Afghanistan set-up, while the world anxiously waits to see how they include other groups.

Baradar, who heads the Taliban's political office, will be joined by Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob — the son of late Taliban founder Mullah Omar — and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, in senior positions in the government, three sources said.

The Taliban had enforced a strict sharia rule when it stayed in power from 1996 to 2001.

But this time around, the movement has tried to present a more moderate face to the world, promising to protect human rights and refrain from reprisals against old enemies.

 

[MenInG]

The Taliban have fired warning shots to disperse the crowd at a large protest in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Video footage from the scene shows people running to safety, while heavy gunfire can be heard in the background.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets on Tuesday to denounce Taliban rule and demand women's rights.

Protesters also chanted anti-Pakistan slogans, as many believe neighbouring Pakistan supports the Taliban, which the country denies.

A video sent to the BBC shows Taliban fighters firing their guns into the air - a move the group banned last week after several people were reported killed after celebratory aerial fire.

Guards at a nearby bank opened its basement car park to dozens of women who sheltered from the gunfire for about 20 minutes, one of the protesters told the BBC.

Some journalists, including the BBC's team, were prevented from filming at the rally. Afghanistan's Tolo news agency reported that its cameraman was arrested and detained by the Taliban for nearly three hours.

A former government official who asked to remain anonymous told the BBC that Taliban members were taking close-up photos of leading protesters, possibly to help identify them later.

Women have been protesting for the past week, but on Tuesday men also joined their calls for equality and safety. Many observers had commented that there were few men at the previous women-led rallies.

The demonstrations come one day after Ahmad Massoud, the leader of anti-Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley, called for a "national uprising" by civilians against the militants.

Many protesters showed support for the resistance forces, who say they are still fighting off the Taliban in Panjshir.

The Taliban on Monday claimed victory in the province - the final pocket of territory which has remained outside their rule

The mood amongst the protesters was one of real anger, directed predominantly at Pakistan but also against the Taliban.

Large numbers of young women were among the crowd. One, chanting "death to Pakistan", alleged the country's air force had bombed Panjshir, the province where resistance forces have been holding out against the Taliban.

Pakistan has dismissed those claims, but is widely seen has having long supported the Taliban's insurgency. Many in Afghanistan have long deeply resented what they see as Pakistani interference - a feeling exacerbated recently by the visit to Kabul of the head of Pakistan's intelligence services, the ISI.

Taliban members in police vehicles initially drove alongside the protesters, not preventing them from demonstrating. However, they later fired volleys of bullets into the air to disperse the crowd, and stopped us and other journalists from filming further.

These protests are the biggest challenge to the Taliban's authority we have seen so far in Kabul, and include bold and direct criticism of the group. One young woman said, "We demand freedom of speech, democracy… I'm not afraid of death."

bbc

 

[MenInG]

The Taliban on Tuesday rejected allegations that Pakistan was interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, saying the group “acted with complete freedom”.

“The interference of Pakistan is a rumour that has been spread about for 20 years... we don’t allow interference,” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said while addressing a news conference in Kabul.

Mujahid added that the group acted with “complete freedom” and defeated those countries which “had been occupying” Afghanistan.

“From the outset, we fought for the sake of Islam and this country [Afghanistan].”

The spokesperson said certain elements were trying to create rifts between Afghanistan and Pakistan. “We have sacrificed for the defence and for the people of this country and will not allow any interference.”

A day earlier, Mujahid had reiterated that Pakistan’s concerns on various issues were justified and the group would address those concerns.

The Taliban’s assurance to Pakistan came after Interior Minister Shiekh Rashid said in Islamabad that the suicide bombers in the recent Gwadar and Quetta terrorist incidents had been identified, adding that they had come from Afghanistan.

At the news conference in Kabul, Mujahid said that as a neighbour, Pakistan’s concerns on various issues were justified.

“The issues on which Pakistan is concerned will be resolved. Our land will not be used against Pakistan.”

He urged Pakistan to keep its borders open for the Afghans. “A Pakistani delegation came to Afghanistan to discuss law and order. The delegation talked to us about security and other issues. Pakistan is requested to keep the borders open for the Afghans,” he said.

Also on Tuesday, the Taliban fired shots into the air to disperse crowds of women who had gathered for a rally in the capital, the latest protest since the group swept to power last month.

General Mobin, a Taliban official in charge of security in the capital, told AFP he had been called to the scene by Taliban guards who said that “women were creating a disruption”.

“These protesters are gathered based only on the conspiracy of foreign intelligence,” he claimed.

Tuesday's demonstration comes after the Taliban claimed total control over Afghanistan a day earlier, saying they had won the key battle for the Panjshir Valley, the last holdout of resistance against their rule.

Located just north of the capital Kabul, Panjshir is one of the smallest of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

It is of strategic importance, providing the main route out of Kabul to the north where important cities like Mazar-e-Sharif and Kunduz are located.

It is populated largely by ethnic Tajiks, a sizeable minority group in Afghanistan. The Taliban are mainly drawn from the largest ethnic Pashtun group.

The region's mountainous, rugged terrain and deep central valley give defenders a significant advantage, forcing attackers to traverse steep mountain passes or enter through the mouth of the valley, where they have to face off against foes commanding higher ground.

(With input from agencies)

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday urged the world to discard "old lenses" and proceed with a "realistic and pragmatic" approach on Afghanistan in a statement that many observers see as Islamabad's bid to seek the international community's support for the interim government of the Afghan Taliban.

The statement of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi came a day after the Taliban announced an interim government that drew criticism from the Western countries for ignoring the demands of an inclusive set-up.

He also suggested inviting Taliban-run Afghanistan to a regional forum of six countries to help avert a humanitarian and economic crisis in the country.

Qureshi attended two key meetings on Afghanistan. First he hosted a virtual meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran, China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Later, he was part of another meeting co-hosted by the US secretary of state and the German foreign minister.

In both meetings, Qureshi's message was clear that the world needed to accept the new reality and proceed accordingly.

Although he did not explicitly say it, his carefully written statement was enough to suggest that Pakistan wanted the world to work with the Afghan Taliban government.

"The new situation requires discarding old lenses, developing new insights, and proceeding with a realistic and pragmatic approach," he told the virtual meeting.

Pakistan's efforts seeking support for the new government in Afghanistan stems from its fears of a possible economic meltdown and humanitarian crisis if the world abandons the neighbouring country.
Speaking at the meeting hosted by the US and Germany, Qureshi even called for unfreezing the foreign reserves of Afghanistan that were withheld by the US after the fall of Kabul.

"The international community must put the Afghan people first," he told the meeting attended by the foreign ministers of Turkey, UK, Spain, India, Saudi Arabia, German, UAE and the NATO secretary general.

"We have to take care that in denying Afghanistan access to its foreign reserves or international financial institutions, we do not end up adding to the miseries of the long-suffering Afghan people," he said.

The Afghanistan State Bank had around $9 billion foreign reserves at the time of fall of Kabul but its assets were frozen by the US and hence the Taliban could not have access to them. International financial institutions including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund also suspended their funding for Afghanistan.

"It is in our collective interest that our actions do not make economic migrants of millions of Afghans who are otherwise content to live in their own country," Qureshi added.

The minister said Afghanistan sat on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

"We have all seen the reports of famine, food shortages, and soaring inflation in Afghanistan."

He urged the international community to maintain their diplomatic presence in the war-torn country.

"There is some consolation that the sudden collapse of the former Afghan government has not caused the mass exodus of refugees from Afghanistan that we had feared. But we must be cautious that economic meltdown does not instead trigger such a crisis.”

Qureshi suggested transforming the regional platform of neighbouring countries into a regular consultative mechanism.

"I also suggest that we may give consideration to the idea to invite Afghanistan in future," he proposed.
"The participation of Afghanistan will augment this forum's effectiveness in pursuing our shared objectives for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan."

Separately, the Foreign office in a first formal reaction hoped that the announcement of the interim political set-up in Kabul would address the requirement of a governance structure to meet the urgent needs of people of Afghanistan.

"We hope that the new political dispensation will ensure coordinated efforts for peace, security and stability in Afghanistan as well as work towards taking care of humanitarian and development needs of the Afghan people," the statement added.

It read that Pakistan had reaffirmed its abiding commitment to a peaceful, stable, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan.

The Qatari foreign minister is due to visit Islamabad on Thursday (today) -- a latest visit by a top foreign diplomat to discuss the evolving situation in Afghanistan.

According to a separate statement issued by the foreign affairs ministry, the government has decided to dispatch humanitarian assistance comprising food and medicines for the people of Afghanistan.

"Three C-130s are being dispatched to Afghanistan. After the first immediate tranche through air, further supplies would continue through land routes,” it read.

(With input from agencies)

 

[Sir-fraz]

Those in the west who blamed Pakistan for everything wrong in Afghanistan, are now actually taking refuge in Pakistani consulate in Kabul.

Busses with logo of Pakistani flags are now a guarantee of safety in Kabul. These busses are now being used to transport the foreign refugees in Pakistan embassy Kabul to the airport.

You naive and ignorant, pakistan had a big hand in play in 1970s and 80s. Pakistan was apart of the problem. Instead of focusing on local affiars they tried ro become a super power.

Funding and training extremists to destablize the Stans because they wanted to be a super power in the area. Its well documented.

 

[MenInG]

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa reiterated on Friday Pakistan's commitment to peace in Afghanistan, stressing constructive engagement and humanitarian support in the neighbouring country.

Gen Bajwa's remarks came as he chaired the 243rd Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) today, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated.

In a series of tweets from the DG ISPR's official account the military's media wing reoported that, "The participants took comprehensive review of global, regional and domestic security environment. Forum was apprised on prevalent situation in Afghanistan, especially security along Pak-Afghan Border and effective safeguards in place against various threats."
The ISPR added that the COAS expressed satisfaction over the efficacy of the comprehensive border management regime due to which Pakistan’s borders and internal security remained intact amid a crisis-like situation in the region.

"The COAS concluded that the designs of external and internal forces inimical to peace and stability in Pakistan shall be thwarted at all costs," the communique said.

The ISPR added that the, "COAS appreciated Army’s support and role towards the overall evacuation & transit related effort under taken in support of evacuation of foreign and Afghan populace from Afghanistan to other countries."

Read Army chief reiterates resolve to thwart designs of CPEC spoilers

Reiterating Pakistan’s firm commitment to peace, the COAS said constructive engagement and sustained humanitarian support for Afghanistan by world community is imperative for enduring peace and stability."

The ISPR added that, "Close cooperation amongst all regional stakeholders is essential for a prosperous and peaceful region."

The CCC participants also paid homage to late Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for his lifelong struggle and sacrifices as leader of the indigenous Freedom Movement in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), and expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people who continue to face Indian state oppression and violence.

"[The] COAS appreciated formations for their efforts for conduct of Muharram in a peaceful manner and instructed complete readiness to counter conventional and non-conventional threats," the ISPR said.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

PAF aircraft brings relief goods to Kabul

https://www.dawn.com/news/1645433/paf-aircraft-brings-relief-goods-to-kabul

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan is extending humanitarian aid comprising food & medicines to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a>.<br>We will continue to do our best to help Afghan brethren during this prevalent challenging environment. <a href="https://t.co/IfKVjuXXqt">pic.twitter.com/IfKVjuXXqt</a></p>— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovtofPakistan/status/1435885679293120512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And a second C-130 landed yesterday in Kabul:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">پاکستان سے ایک اور C-130 طیارہ آج مزید امداد کے ساتھ خوست پہنچا۔ <a href="https://t.co/LtloytjhwH">pic.twitter.com/LtloytjhwH</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1436620503184199686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan is monitoring the ability of the new Taliban government in Afghanistan to deliver on commitments and promises to uphold human rights that they have made to the international community before extending recognition to it, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan has said.

“Whether the Taliban actually abide by those (commitments) is their call,” the Pakistani envoy said in an interview with The Washington Diplomat.

“But we have basically laid out our expectations, which is that we want the rights of everyone to be respected,” he said when asked under what conditions Pakistan would recognise the Taliban government.

“We want that Afghan territory not be used against any other country, including Pakistan. We want human rights and women's rights to be preserved.”

Read: The new government in Afghanistan is a disappointment. Here's why

At the same time, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan believed that “instead of indulging in give-and-take on these issues, right now what's really important is to avert a humanitarian crisis.”

What was really important at the moment was to “basically not let things fall apart”, he said, adding “clearly, there is a new reality, which is a government under the Taliban.”

“The international community has to make a choice: between engaging — and that doesn't necessarily mean recognition — and abandonment.”

Replying to a question about Pakistan-US ties, he said since 9/11, Pakistan has essentially been seen through the prism of Afghanistan.

“I can tell you that today, we are together on the same side in terms of our interests and expectations in Afghanistan. The US wants to see the conflict end; that's also what we want. And we would like to see that the gains Afghanistan has made over the last few decades are preserved.”

Read: Blinken says US will assess Pakistan ties over Afghanistan's future

Asked about the impression in the US that Pakistan supported extremist groups, Ambassador Khan said the facts needed to be looked at more closely.

“Pakistan has been a close partner and ally in decimating Al Qaeda, and in bringing about the peace negotiations (on Afghanistan),” he said, asserting that it was unfortunate that Pakistan was associated with a lot of negative news.

About India-Pakistan ties, he said, “Unfortunately, we have a government in India which is fundamentalist and ideological, which believes in unilateralism, and which has regrettably rebuffed all our peaceful overtures.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan had publicly extended the hand of friendship to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, noting that the latter chose to indulge in military adventurism.

“The situation in [occupied] Kashmir continues to be very bad. Pakistan wants to resolve all its disputes through engagement and dialogue. Our two countries have no other options but peace.“

No unilateral recognition
Last month, Pakistan had decided that it would not recognise the Taliban government unilaterally but with the consent of regional and international powers.

“Pakistan would take a decision about recognising Taliban government in Afghanistan in consultation with regional and international powers, especially China, Turkey and the United States of America,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry had said after a meeting of the federal cabinet.

Pakistan remained committed to an inclusive political settlement representative of all Afghan ethnic groups, which was the way forward, he added.

In its first official comment on the government announced by the Taliban earlier this month, Pakistan had expressed the hope that the new political dispensation would work for peace and security in Afghanistan and address its people's humanitarian needs.

 

[saeedhk]

More than half of Pakistanis happy with Taliban takeover

Full new story:https://thecurrent.pk/more-than-half-of-pakistanis-happy-with-taliban-takeover/

I cannot copy and paste the article from the news site.

 

[the Great Khan]

More than half of Pakistanis happy with Taliban takeover

Full new story:https://thecurrent.pk/more-than-half-of-pakistanis-happy-with-taliban-takeover/

I cannot copy and paste the article from the news site.

And why shouldn't they be. No more large scale campaign terrorism enabled and supported by our enemies.

Yes there will be low level incidents but Pakistanis understand the importance of a calmer western border. All Pakistanis want is a govt friendly to Pakistan or at least not an enemy on the western border.

 

[OMB]

FM Qureshi emphasizes on need to meet Afghan humanitarian needs

Foreign minister calls for international solidarity with the Afghan people in terms of financial and political support

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has emphasised the need to meet the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people and extend development assistance to the war-torn country.

The foreign minister expressed Islamabad's perspective during a telephonic conversation with his Bahraini counterpart Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani amid the extraordinary situation emerging out of the recent developments in the neighbouring country.

“Peaceful and stable Afghanistan is of critical importance for Pakistan and the region,” Qureshi said and called for international solidarity with the Afghan people in terms of financial and political support.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the FM further apprised his counterpart about continued humanitarian support by Pakistan in several ways, including the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of relief goods.

In the bilateral context, the two diplomats discussed various dimensions of Pakistan-Bahrain relations and agreed to strengthen cooperation in all fields, MOFA added.

Both agreed to remain in close contact on bilateral matters as well as regional issues of common interest.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2320466/fm-qureshi-emphasizes-on-need-to-meet-afghan-humanitarian-needs

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1646731/blinkens-remarks-on-reassessing-ties-not-in-line-with-close-us-pakistan-cooperation-fo

Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Thursday said that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's remarks earlier this week, in which he had said the United States would be reassessing its relationship with Pakistan, were "not in line with the close cooperation" between the two countries.

He made the comment in response to a question during his weekly press conference in Islamabad.

Terming Blinken's statement a "surprise", the spokesperson noted that Pakistan's positive role in the Afghan peace process, facilitation of the multinational evacuation effort from the war-torn country, and continued support for an inclusive political settlement had been "duly acknowledged", including by the US state department spokesperson in his press briefing on Wednesday.

Ahmad recalled that Pakistan had played a "critical role" in helping the US degrade Al Qaeda's core leadership in Afghanistan which was the international coalition's main objective.

Pakistan had "always maintained" that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and a political settlement was the only plausible pathway to sustainable peace in the country, he further noted, adding that the stance was now shared by the US.

Ahmad said that achieving an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan that reflected the country's diversity and protected the gains made during the last two decades remained a "shared objective" of Pakistan and the US.

"We look forward to building on this convergence while also strengthening other aspects of a broad-based and constructive relationship," he added.

While testifying before Congress on Monday on the Taliban victory in Afghanistan, Blinken had said the US would be looking at its relationship with Pakistan in the coming weeks to formulate what role Washington would want it to play in the future of Afghanistan.

Blinken told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that Pakistan had a "multiplicity of interests, [with] some that are in conflict with ours".

Asked by lawmakers if it was time for Washington to reassess its relationship with Pakistan, Blinken said the administration would soon be doing that.

"This is one of the things we're going to be looking at in the days, and weeks ahead — the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years but also the role we would want to see it play in the coming years and what it will take for it to do that," he said.

Asked about Blinken's remarks in his press briefing on Wednesday, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the US had been in regular touch with Pakistan and had discussed the situation in Afghanistan in detail.

"Pakistan, we know, has frequently advocated for an inclusive government with broad support in Afghanistan, and what the secretary was referring to yesterday is that we are going to continue to look to Pakistan and to other countries in the region to make good on their public statements, on commitments they have made," Price said.

These commitments included working constructively with the US and the international community to ensure that they were on the same page on shared priorities, including the humanitarian concerns, rights and gains of the Afghan people over the past 20 years as well as counterterrorism concerns, he added.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2320531/pakistan-to-recognise-taliban-govt-independently-not-under-duress?_gl=1*l88s4r*_ga*YW1wLWVaa0lBOG0wRk1ybGE2QjVVUXd1TUs5X2RoMWxwd2RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI

Pakistan has announced that it will take an independent decision in line with its interests on recognising the Taliban government in a major policy statement rejecting the US demand asking Islamabad not to give legitimacy to Afghanistan’s new rulers unless they meet international demands.

“There is no pressure, and we do not take any pressure. We will take independent decisions in line with our interests,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said on Thursday while responding to a question about whether Pakistan was under US pressure not to recognise the Taliban government.

Testifying before the US Congress, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Pakistan to deny legitimacy to the Afghan Taliban unless they meet international demands.

“So Pakistan needs to line up with a broad majority of the international community in working towards those ends and in upholding those expectations,” Blinken said. But the Foreign Office spokesperson’s statement appears to reject the demand.

Pakistan has been urging the international community to adopt a pragmatic approach, saying the Afghan Taliban are the “new reality” and hence it is time to work with them.

Speaking at a weekly news briefing, the FO spokesperson also said Pakistan was surprised by the comments made by the US lawmakers and Secretary Blinken about its role in Afghanistan, insisting the critical remarks were not in line with close cooperation between Islamabad and Washington.

Asked by lawmakers if it is time for Washington to reassess its relationship with Pakistan, Blinken said the administration would soon be doing that.

“This is one of the things we're going to be looking at in the days, and weeks ahead – the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years but also the role we would want to see it play in the coming years and what it will take for it to do that," he said while testifying before the US Congress on Afghanistan.

Blinken also endorsed comments by certain American lawmakers, who questioned the role of Pakistan. "It is one that is involved hedging its bets constantly about the future of Afghanistan, it's one that's involved harbouring members of the Taliban ... It is one that's also involved in different points cooperation with us on counterterrorism," Blinken said referring to Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan.

But FO Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar during the briefing rejected the characterisation of Pakistan's role.

“We have noted that the comments were not in line with the close cooperation between Pakistan and the United States,” the FO spokesperson told reporters. “This was surprising as Pakistan’s positive role in the Afghan peace process, recent facilitation of the multinational evacuation effort from Afghanistan, and continued support for an inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan have been duly acknowledged, including most recently by the US State Department spokesperson in his briefing of 15 September 2021,” he added.

Responding to the criticism, the spokesperson listed a number of actions Pakistan undertook to help the US in the fight against terrorism.

“Pakistan had played a critical role in helping the United States degrade al Qaeda’s core leadership in Afghanistan, which was the international coalition’s core objective. At the same time, Pakistan had always maintained that there was no military solution to the larger Afghan conflict and that a political settlement offered the only plausible pathway to sustainable peace in Afghanistan – a position now shared by the United States,” the spokesperson added.

On Afghanistan, the spokesperson said achieving an inclusive political settlement in the war-torn country that represents Afghanistan’s diversity and reflects the gains made by the country remains a shared objective for Pakistan and the US.

“We look forward to building on this convergence while also strengthening other aspects of a broad-based and constructive relationship,” he said.

Observers believe that the US may disengage with Pakistan despite earlier promises that it would not abandon the country once its job was done in Afghanistan.

The lack of US interest to reset ties with Pakistan can be judged from the fact that President Joe Biden has not yet telephoned Prime Minister Imran Khan. In an interview, PM Imran said Biden might be a busy man and hence he had not yet reached out to him.

But the lack of contact at the civil leadership level is indicative of the US administration's future policy towards Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the Taliban must fulfill the promises it has made in Afghanistan, and called on the international community to stand with the people of the war-torn country.

The premier expressed these views while addressing the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry were also present alongside the premier.

Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, PM Imran said that now was the time to stand with the Afghans.

We must remember that the Afghan government primarily depended on foreign aid, he said, highlighting the need to mobilise international support for immediate humanitarian assistance.

Pakistan has a vital interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and will continue to lend its support, he said, adding that Afghanistan could not be "controlled from the outside".

DAWN

 

[OMB]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After mtgs in Dushanbe with leaders of Afghanistan's neighbours & especially a lengthy discussion with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, I have initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for an inclusive Afghan govt to include Tajiks, Hazaras & Uzbeks.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1439158625243648002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[globalcitizen]

What a joke. Bringing down a Afghanistan government on path to development, and now asking everyone to accept taliban. These actions are going to have serious ramifications at every level, trade or sports or economy

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

A bigger joke was the Afghan govt whose sponsors fled on the first flight out. Shame they had no room for the traitors who ended up hanging on the wheels of airplanes once they realised the game was up.

 

[MenInG]

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers should understand that if they want recognition and assistance in rebuilding the war-battered country, they have to be more sensitive and more receptive to international opinion and norms.

Qureshi, who is in New York to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said on Tuesday that countries are watching to see how things evolve in Afghanistan before considering recognition.

“I don't think anybody is in a rush to recognise at this stage and the Taliban should keep an eye on that,” he said.

If the Taliban want recognition, “they have to be more sensitive and more receptive to international opinion,” he said.

The minister said that Pakistan's objective was peace and stability in Afghanistan and to achieve that "we would suggest to Afghans that they should have an inclusive government".

Read: PM Imran says dialogue initiated with Taliban for inclusive Afghan government

He said their initial statements indicate they aren't averse to the idea, so "let's see".

Qureshi expressed the hope the Afghan Taliban would live up to their promise that girls and women would be allowed to go to school, college and university.

He also strongly urged the United States and other countries that have frozen money from the former Afghan government to release it because "that's Afghan money that should be spent on Afghan people".

He said the most urgent priority was averting an even deeper economic collapse of the neighboring nation that could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe.

“On one hand, you're raising fresh funds to avert a crisis and on the other hand money that is theirs — belongs to them — they cannot use,” Qureshi told reporters.

“I think freezing the assets is not helping the situation. I would strongly urge the powers that be that they should revisit that policy and think of an unfreeze,” he said.

“It will be a confidence-building measure as well and that could also incentivise positive behavior.”

The United States froze $9.5 billion in Afghan central bank assets and international lenders have stayed clear of Afghanistan, wary of providing money that could be used by the Taliban.

 

[MenInG]

Failure to form an inclusive government will lead to civil war in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said, as the Taliban announced several senior appointments nearly a month after they took over the country.

The Taliban were ousted from power by US-led forces in 2001 for refusing to hand over al Qaeda leaders responsible for the September 11 attacks. The group returned to Kabul last month after US forces announced they were leaving and the US-backed government and military collapsed.

"If they do not include all the factions [in the government] sooner or later they will have a civil war. That would mean an unstable, chaotic, Afghanistan and an ideal place for terrorists. That is a worry," the premier said in an interview with BBC's John Simpson.

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On recognising the Taliban government, the prime minister said the decision would be taken after consultations with other neighbouring states.

"All neighbours will get together and see how they progress [...] whether to recognise them or not will be a collective decision," the premier said.

PM Imran Khan called on the Taliban leadership to form an inclusive government, respect human rights, and ensure Afghanistan's soil is not used to house terrorists that could be a threat to Pakistan's security.

The foreign ministers of Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran last Thursday held a meeting on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and evolving security paradigm in the region and urged the Taliban to form an inclusive government in the country.

The premier noted that the statements that the Taliban had made after coming into power were "very encouraging", as he reiterated the international community should give Taliban more time.

The prime minister said Afghan women would eventually "assert their rights", as they were strong, and when asked how much time that would require, he said: "A year, two years, three years."

"It's just too early to say anything because it's barely been a month, and after 20 years of civil war, they [the Taliban] have come into power," the prime minister said.

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan is working towards reopening high school education for girls, who were left out of a recent return to school for boys and younger girls, although a Taliban spokesman speaking on Tuesday gave no time frame for action.

The Taliban say they have changed since their 1996-2001 rule, when they barred women from leaving home without a male relative and shuttered schools for girls, but they stirred scepticism when they said last week that they would open schools for high school-aged boys but not girls.

"In the case of schools (for female students), the Ministry of Education is working hard to provide the ground for the education of high school girls as soon as possible, work is underway on the procedure, and it is hoped that this will be done, God willing," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters at a news conference in Kabul.

 

[MenInG]

Be realistic. Show patience. Engage. And above all, don’t isolate. Those are the pillars of an approach emerging in Pakistan to deal with the fledgling government that is suddenly running the country next door once again — Afghanistan’s resurgent, often-volatile Taliban.

Pakistan is proposing that the international community develop a road map that leads to diplomatic recognition of the Afghan Taliban — with incentives if they fulfill its requirements — and then sit down face to face and talk it out with the group's leaders.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi outlined the idea on Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press (AP) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s meeting of world leaders.

“If they live up to those expectations, they would make it easier for themselves, they will get acceptability, which is required for recognition,” Qureshi told the AP. “At the same time, the international community has to realise: What’s the alternative? What are the options? This is the reality, and can they turn away from this reality?”


He said Pakistan “is in sync with the international community” in wanting to see a peaceful, stable Afghanistan with no space for terrorist elements to increase their foothold, and for the Taliban to ensure “that Afghan soil is never used again against any country.”

“But we are saying, be more realistic in your approach,” Qureshi said. “Try an innovative way of engaging with them. The way that they were being dealt with has not worked.”

Expectations from the Taliban leadership could include an inclusive government and assurances for human rights, especially for women and girls, Qureshi said. In turn, he said, the Afghan government might be motivated by receiving development, economic and reconstruction aid to help recover from decades of war.

He urged the US, the International Monetary Fund and other countries that have frozen Afghan government funds to immediately release the money so it can be used “for promoting normalcy in Afghanistan.” And he pledged that Pakistan is ready to play a “constructive, positive” role in opening communications channels with the Taliban because it, too, benefits from peace and stability.

This is the second time that the Taliban have ruled Afghanistan. The first time, from 1996 to 2001, ended when they were ousted by a US-led coalition after the 9/11 attacks.

During that rule, Taliban leaders and police barred girls from school and prohibited women from working outside the home or leaving it without a male escort. After they were overthrown, Afghan women still faced challenges in the male-dominated society but increasingly stepped into powerful positions in government and numerous fields.

But when the US withdrew its military from Afghanistan last month, the government collapsed and a new generation of the Taliban resurged, taking over almost immediately. In the weeks since, many countries have expressed disappointment that the Taliban’s interim government is not inclusive as its spokesperson had promised.

While the new government has allowed young girls to attend school, it has not yet allowed older girls to return to secondary school, and most women to return to work despite a promise in April that women “can serve their society in the education, business, health and social fields while maintaining correct ... hijab.”

Pakistan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, has a long and sometimes conflicted relationship with its neighbour that includes attempts to prevent terrorism there. The Islamabad government has a fundamental vested interest in ensuring that whatever the new Afghanistan offers, it is not a threat to Pakistan.

That, Qureshi says, requires a steady and calibrated approach.

“It has to be a realistic assessment, a pragmatic view on both sides, and that will set the tone for recognition eventually,” the minister said. The good news, he said, is that the Taliban are listening, “and they are not insensitive to what is being said by neighbours and the international community.”

How does he know they’re listening? He says the interim government, drawn mostly from Afghanistan’s dominant Pashtun ethnic group, made some additions on Tuesday. It added representatives from the country’s ethnic minorities — Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras.

“Yes, there are no women yet,” Qureshi said. “But let us let the situation evolve.”

He stressed that the Taliban must make decisions in the coming days and weeks that will enhance their acceptability.

“What the international community can do, in my view, is sit together and work out a roadmap,” Qureshi said. “And if they fulfill those expectations, this is what the international community can do to help them stabilise their economy. This is the humanitarian assistance that can be provided. This is how they can help rebuild Afghanistan, reconstruction and so on and so forth.”

He added: “With this roadmap ahead, I think an international engagement can be more productive.”

On Wednesday night, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said after a meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council that all five nations — the US, China, Britain, Russia and France — want “an Afghanistan at peace, stable, where humanitarian aid can be distributed without problems or discrimination.”

He also described a hoped-for “Afghanistan where the rights of women and girls are respected, an Afghanistan that won’t be a sanctuary for terrorism, an Afghanistan where we have an inclusive government representing the different sectors of the population.”

Qureshi said there are different forums where the international community can work out the best way to approach the situation. In the meantime, he asserted, things seem to be stabilising. Less than six weeks after the Taliban seized power on August 15, he said, Pakistan has received information that the law-and-order situation has improved, fighting has stopped and many internally displaced Afghans are going home.

“That’s a positive sign,” Qureshi said.

He said Pakistan hasn’t seen a new influx of Afghan refugees — a sensitive issue for Pakistanis, who are highly motivated to prevent it. A humanitarian crisis, a foundering economy and workers who return to jobs and school but aren’t getting salaries and don’t have money could cause Afghans to flee across the porous border into Pakistan, which has suffered economically from such arrivals over decades of conflict.

Qureshi prescribed patience and realism. After all, he says, every previous attempt to stabilise Afghanistan has failed, so don’t expect new efforts to produce immediate success with the Taliban. If the US and its allies “could not convince them or eliminate them in two decades, how will you do it in the next two months or the next two years?” he wondered.

Asked whether he had a prediction of what Afghanistan might be like in six months, Qureshi turned the question back on his AP interviewer, replying: “Can you guarantee me US behavior over the next six months?”

 

[ExplicitAI]

Can Pakistan remove Afghan refugees from the country and send them back? Can't they just send the army and start knocking on doors and remove them? Feel like the country will improve in all aspects slowly once these guys are gone.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Can Pakistan remove Afghan refugees from the country and send them back? Can't they just send the army and start knocking on doors and remove them? Feel like the country will improve in all aspects slowly once these guys are gone.

1. Most of these refugees have been living in Pakistan for years/decades. These people have their children born in Pakistan so from an objective point of view, they are Pakistanis.

2. Pakistan doesn't have resources or even basic database to execute such a complicated operation.

 

[MenInG]

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday he believed the world was united on pressing the Taliban after speaking with Pakistan, China and Russia, key players with Afghanistan's new rulers.

Blinken met Thursday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with his counterpart from Pakistan, and held talks with ministers of the four other veto-wielding Security Council members including China and Russia on Wednesday evening.

"I think there is very strong unity of approach and unity of purpose," Blinken told reporters.

"The Taliban says that it seeks legitimacy, that it seeks support, from the international community. The relationship that it has with the international community is going to be defined by the actions it takes."

Blinken reiterated US priorities for the Taliban including allowing Afghans and foreigners to leave, respecting the rights of women, girls and minorities, and not letting Afghanistan be used again by extremists such as Al-Qaeda.

The State Department said Blinken highlighted "the importance of coordinating our diplomatic engagement" in talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Pakistan has called for engagement with the Taliban and the unfreezing of Afghan assets but Qureshi said earlier in the week that there was no rush to recognize a new Taliban government, a step opposed by Western nations.

China and Russia have both moved to engage with the Taliban but have also stopped short of recognition and have longstanding concerns about terrorism

During his meeting with Blinken, Qureshi asked Washington not to repeat the mistake of disengaging with Afghanistan.

The meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session and came amid concerns that the relationship between Pakistan and the US may see a dip after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In the meeting, according to Qureshi, the two sides discussed Pakistan’s desire to have broad-based ties covering trade, investment, energy and regional connectivity. He said that close engagement between Pakistan and the US had always been mutually beneficial and a factor for stability in South Asia.

At a recent testimony before the US Congress, Secretary Blinken had said that Washington would reassess Pakistan’s role it played in the last 20 years in Afghanistan and what role his country wanted it to play in the future.

The foreign minister also told Secretary Blinken that Pakistan was committed to facilitating inclusive political settlement of Afghanistan.

Pakistan is worried that the US may commit the same mistake as it did after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Islamabad feels such an approach would be catastrophic as this would not lead to the humanitarian crises but also allow terrorist outfits to regroup, posing threat to the regional and the world.

Pakistan along with China and Russia are also pushing for the unfreezing of foreign reserves of Afghanistan. But the US is unlikely to heed the call as it wants to use the reserves as leverage over the Taliban

 

[ExplicitAI]

1. Most of these refugees have been living in Pakistan for years/decades. These people have their children born in Pakistan so from an objective point of view, they are Pakistanis.

2. Pakistan doesn't have resources or even basic database to execute such a complicated operation.

A bit unfortunate. Although I do think the country is capable enough of doing this if done right. No country should accept refugees given the context.

 

[saeedhk]

‘Imran Khan should stay out of our affairs,’ Afghan commander Mubeen warns.

It seems to me that AT are turning their backs to Pakistan. First by refusing to act against the TTP and now this warning!

 

[Bewal Express]

‘Imran Khan should stay out of our affairs,’ Afghan commander Mubeen warns.

It seems to me that AT are turning their backs to Pakistan. First by refusing to act against the TTP and now this warning!

Do you agree with me that the Taliban coming to power and kicking out Ind is great news

 

[saeedhk]

Do you agree with me that the Taliban coming to power and kicking out Ind is great news

Depends on how you see it. India has done tremendous development in Afghanistan including building a dam.

 

[mazkhan]

I've said it before the biggest losers of the American withdrawal are the Oxford elite of pakistan which includes immy . The military junta + civilian elite profiteered of the US nato war sold people and did maujan of the profits the rest of pakistan lost but these elite and junta continued their lavish lifestyles.

Money pot has now run dry from west and they have more or less dumped pakistan.

 

[Bewal Express]

Depends on how you see it. India has done tremendous development in Afghanistan including building a dam.

You should have said it depends on where you are from-a PK would have said yes, because it stops all the Ind proxies killing our soldiers and civilians. Btw your answer shows how far the Srivastava group go to find people to spread their message

 

[MenInG]

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has once again urged the international community to engage with the "new reality" in Afghanistan and unfreeze the country's assets so that things do not fall apart.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Qureshi said Pakistan has been urging the international community to engage with the new reality in Afghanistan so that things do not fall apart and a semblance of order is established.

Expressing his views regarding the freezing of about $10 billion in Afghan assets, he pointed out that Afghanistan needs an economic injection and that money could come in handy if it was available.

"Unfreeze it and make it available for the Afghan people. There is a humanitarian crisis in the making and use that money to address the crisis," he added.

He suggested that there could be ways and means to ensure that the money reached the needy and was not misused, adding that the United Nations could play a role in this regard.

In response to a question, Qureshi said it "certainly concerned" Pakistan if there was a total economic collapse in Afghanistan.

"The collapse could lead to an exodus, a huge influx of refugees moving in different directions towards Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan. It could destabilise the entire region. And we are very concerned about that," he elaborated.

He further said that an economic collapse could give space to terrorists. "It would have serious consequences not only for Pakistan but for the entire region. The consequences could roll out of the region," he cautioned.

Read: 'Be more realistic': FM Qureshi details roadmap for Afghan Taliban's recognition

To another question, Qureshi replied that there was uncertainty when the Taliban took control of the country on Aug 15, but the anxiety had gone down because "there has been no bloodshed after the takeover and chances of a major civil war have been averted."

Moreover, there was an announcement of general amnesty and commitment by the Taliban that there would be no revenge. There was more calmness, he added.

"So I don't think people are restless at the moment, but yes, things remain uncertain and if some challenges are not addressed [and dealt with] rigidly, they can take a different turn," the foreign minister said.

The foreign minister said Pakistan was watching and observing as things unfolded and would take a decision on whether to recognise the Taliban government or not at an appropriate time.

'US should have focused on reconciliation'
About the United States' invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11, the foreign minister observed that perhaps, they had no choice as there was compulsion due to public opinion.

He said the US should have focused on what they had gone in for after disseminating the Al Qaeda network. They should have worked towards reconciliation, peace and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

"The country could have gone to normal. The bulk of the money had been spent on security and less on development. The government of Ashraf Ghani lost credibility because the Afghan people felt that life under them was not improved and not secured. There was squabbling and infighting and they were not certain about their future," he added.

Responding to another question related to allegations by former vice president of Afghanistan, Amrullah Saleh, Qureshi said, "He (Saleh) used to speak someone else's language. He was briefed by India and was on their payroll."

Inclusive govt
About an inclusive government in Afghanistan, the foreign minister said that gradually, it appeared the Taliban had accepted the idea of inclusion of multiple ethnicities.

Pakistan has been advocating for a more inclusive approach, he said, adding that "in politics, you have to make compromises and make moves to accommodate all points of view from both sides."

The foreign minister, in response to a question, said that Afghans were very independent-minded people who took their own decisions.

"We, as a policy, decided not to interfere in their internal matters. We will help when asked to help," he said, reiterating the desire to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He asserted that Pakistan would do whatever it could to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan. "We have no business in interfering with their internal matters," he maintained.

Qureshi said it concerned Pakistan if elements of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had been set free from jails in Afghanistan.

In response to a question regarding female education in Afghanistan, he said that according to his information, girls were going to schools and colleges and were not being restricted. Women could also be accommodated in the cabinet, he added.

Qureshi said the Taliban had urged the people who were in the government service to come back and resume work. "It takes time to bridge the trust deficit," he noted.

Pak-Afghan border crossings
The foreign minister said Pak-Afghan borders were kept open.

"The question is — would you allow people into your country without documentation, visa or passports? You don't. There are certain norms you have to follow," he contended.

Qureshi said in the past, the borders were porous and Pakistan paid the price. It was also accused of cross-border movements, but eventually, Pakistan fenced the border for better management and regulations.

Responding to a question, he said the Taliban had made a clear commitment that Afghan soil would not be used against any country including Pakistan. "I hope they will live up to that promise," he added.

The foreign minister said India should stop its spoilers' role in the region. "In Afghanistan, its role was not helpful in the peace process, as a matter of fact, they were obstructionist in the peace process and colluded with Ghani's government by blocking the negotiation process."

Regarding holding elections in Afghanistan, he said: "Let things settle down and let things calm down. Let the people feel secure. Then we (the international community) can talk about representation."

About sophisticated weaponry left behind by US forces, the foreign minister said if it went in the wrong hands, it obviously concerned Pakistan.

'Tribal areas successfully rid of terrorists'
The foreign minister said Pakistan had undertaken a number of operations to clean up its tribal areas of terrorists and did it successfully at the cost of huge losses.

The safe havens and fighters were operating across the border and were inside Afghanistan, he said, adding Pakistan had identified those safe havens which were used against it.

There was surveillance and monitoring on its part, he said, adding whenever Pakistan was accused of having safe havens for terrorists, the blaming quarters were invited to come to these areas and see the situation themselves.

Regarding the recent tour cancellations by New Zealand and England cricket teams, Qureshi said that he wished the players had Vigo W ahead with the tours.

He said Pakistan had assured the teams of security and protection. To reduce their anxiety and make them feel more protected, they had suggested that stadiums would be kept empty. But the game should go on. They pulled back, which was disappointing, he added.

 

[MenInG]

Thousands of Afghans trying to escape the misery at home have flocked to their country's southern border with Pakistan, but their attempts to get across have been stopped by the Taliban.

Zakariullah, sitting on a dirt road in the trading town of Spin Boldak only a few hundred metres from Pakistan, says he has been turned back more than half a dozen times, sometimes violently.

"They say only people from the area with papers," Zakariullah, a 25-year-old farmer and father of three, told AFP on the weekend.

"We want to cross the border to work there because there are no jobs here."

Read more: Taliban ranks banned from conducting house searches, ‘stealing’ properties

The new Taliban rulers insist Afghans need to stay and rebuild their conflict-ravaged country.

"They tell people 'It’s your country. You should not leave'," said 25-year-old Rahmadin Wardak, who was also trying to flee.

On the other side, their Pakistani counterparts in Chaman were also stopping those attempting to cross.

"Every day, 8,000 to 9,000 people try to cross the border without having the necessary papers, and are turned back," one Taliban border guard, Mullah Maulvi Haqyar, told AFP.

Maulvi Noor Mohammad Saeed, a Taliban official in Kandahar province, confirmed the authorities were asking "people and families to not leave the country".

"Doing that, you lose respect for your Afghan culture," he told AFP.

Also read: Taliban disperse women protesters with gunfire in Kabul

At the border, only day labourers and traders -- all young men wearing traditional flat pakol hats and sweating under the weight of their goods -- were allowed to cram into a narrow corridor topped with barbed wire that led to the next checkpoint.

A second corridor for other travellers lay mostly empty, with a few exceptions including elderly men and women loaded onto wheelbarrows seeking urgent healthcare in Pakistan.

But scores of Afghans are eager to leave a country on the verge of economic collapse since the militants seized power in mid-August and foreign aid money dried up.

Jobs have vanished while farmers are struggling with the impact of a drought.

The United Nations has warned a third of the population is facing the threat of famine.

Zakariullah, whose farmland was 600 kilometres in Kabul province, said he now hoped to find work in Pakistan. He would then send for his wife and children to join him.

But, like many others at the border crossing, the journey to Spin Boldak has stripped away his meagre savings.

Mohammed Arif said he left his home in Nangarhar in the east because he had "no money, no food to feed my eight children".

Commotion erupted outside the border office as hundreds pleaded with the Taliban to let them through, during a visit by AFP on the weekend.

Read: Young Taliban dancing to a different tune

Guards wielding sticks and pipes tried to control the frenzied scene as a crush of people pushed to get across to sell their possessions -- and keep hunger at bay for a few more hours.

None of them made it.

Before the Covid pandemic and recent upheavals, the border was mostly open, with few restrictions for the tens of thousands who crossed daily.

But when the Taliban seized Spin Boldak early on in their dizzying offensive, Pakistan shut the gates and left huge crowds of stranded travellers to amass on both sides.

The crossing reopened when the hardline group ousted the US-backed government and assumed power in mid-August.

More Afghans arrived, fearing the Taliban would return to their brutal rule in the 1990s.

"At first, lots of people could cross," said Sami Ul Haq, who monitors the crossing point for the UN refugee agency UNHCR. "Before we had up to 24,000 people coming a day."

There were few restrictions at the crossing during the last two weeks of August, but then the Taliban and Pakistanis clamped down.

The UNHCR has meanwhile not reported huge movements of people towards the borders.

With the war over, some Afghan refugees living in Pakistan have even returned.

But the agency last month said it was preparing contingency plans for up to 500,000 rushing into neighbouring countries by the end of the year.

"We need to prepare in case any change inside the country could trigger a massive displacement," Bertrand Blanc, a UNHCR senior emergency officer, told AFP in Islamabad.

"For the moment, we are in a wait and see situation."

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2323864/pm-imran-stresses-for-coordinated-policy-on-afghanistan-during-nsc-moot

Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed the need for a 'coordinated policy' on Afghanistan during the 34th National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on Friday.

According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the NSC was convened under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. It was attended by relevant federal cabinet members, all services chiefs, and heads of intelligence services.

During the crucial NSC moot today, Afghanistan remained the topic of discussion and the prime minister received a detailed briefing on the evolving regional security situation and the recent developments in the war-torn country and their possible impact on Pakistan.

The NSC reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable and sovereign Afghanistan, according to the statement by the PMO and added that the participants noted, with concern, the "dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and emphasized the urgent need for the international community to provide assistance to avert a humanitarian crisis".

The forum also highlighted the importance of international coordination on constructive political and economic engagement with the interim government in Afghanistan.

“The prime minister expressed satisfaction on Pakistan’s support to the international evacuation effort from Afghanistan and noted that the entire world had recognised Pakistan’s positive contribution,” the PMO stated.

The NSC emphasised that the evolving situation in the region was "extremely complex" and any instability in Afghanistan "could have severe implications for Pakistan".

“Agreeing with this view, the prime minister stressed the need for a coordinated policy effort,” the press release added.

The premier also directed the establishment of a dedicated cell to synergize various streams of efforts on Afghanistan across the government, including international coordination for humanitarian assistance and effective border management to prevent any negative spillover into Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan International Airlines has suspended flights to the Afghan capital Kabul, citing "heavy-handed" interference from the Taliban.

The decision came after the Taliban ordered the airline to cut prices to levels seen before the fall of the Western-backed government in August.

PIA has been the only foreign carrier operating regular flights out of Kabul.

Tickets to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, had been selling for up to 10 times the August rate.

The Taliban government's Transport Ministry said in a statement quoted by Reuters that tickets should "be adjusted to correspond with the conditions of a ticket before the victory of the Islamic Emirate", i.e. $120-150 (£87-110).

It urged passengers to report any violations of this order, which was also directed at Afghan carrier Kam Air.

Flights could be banned if the airlines did not comply, it added.

But PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan said the company had to deal with last-minute changes by officials to regulations and flight permissions.

Its staff were also facing intimidation, with its representative held at gunpoint for several hours, Mr Khan added.

Services between the two countries have been severely limited since international flights resumed last month following the departure of US troops at the end of August.

Mr Khan said that insurance premiums were so high that it was impossible to operate scheduled flights, and that the airline's decision to resume charter flights on 13 September had been taken on humanitarian grounds.

A dire shortage of seats has meant one way tickets selling for as much as $1,200.

However, there has been disappointment at PIA's decision from some passengers.

"We are in bad need of these flights. The borders are closed, now if the airport is closed, it is like we are all in a cage," pharmaceutical company employee Abdullah told Reuters.

BBC

 

[MenInG]

The Taliban-led Afghan government has warned the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) and the Kam Air to reduce the fares of Kabul to Islamabad flights or “they would be blocked from landing in Afghanistan”.

An official notification issued on Thursday from the Afghan ministry said that it received “scores of complaint” that the PIA and the Kam Air are charging Rs200,000 and $2,700 respectively for a two-way ticket between Islamabad and Kabul.

The statement comes as the PIA on Thursday said that it was suspending flights from Kabul after what it called “heavy handed” interference by Taliban authorities, including arbitrary rule changes and intimidation of staff.

A senior official of the Afghan aviation ministry told The Express Tribune that the Taliban government took the unilateral decision after Pakistan Embassy in Kabul paid no heed to their complaints.

“We demand PIA, Kam airlines to restore the previous rates of the tickets or they would be banned from landing in Afghanistan,” the notification said.

The Afghan official further added that PIA was doing injustice with the Afghan people by overcharging for air tickets.

The national flag carrier is one of the few airlines operating flights to the neighbouring country.

According to media reports, the PIA is also facilitating the international community in facilitating evacuation efforts and relief goods supplies to the country.

The PIA resumed special flights to the country after the Taliban seized power in mid-August, and was a lifeline for many Afghans trying to flee the new regime and economic crisis.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/232481...RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI

 

[PakLFC]

Things with Afghanistan will never be easy. If the Afghan Taliban allow attacks on Pak then we just have to bomb Afghanistan. By and large we should have little to do with them until they mend their ways. Most important thing is no attacks on Pak from Afghanistan can be tolerated.

 

[saeedhk]

Things with Afghanistan will never be easy. If the Afghan Taliban allow attacks on Pak then we just have to bomb Afghanistan. By and large we should have little to do with them until they mend their ways. Most important thing is no attacks on Pak from Afghanistan can be tolerated.

Attacks have gone up since they came to power. Around 2000 TTP militants were also released by them.

 

[PakLFC]

Attacks have gone up since they came to power. Around 2000 TTP militants were also released by them.

Where do you get this info from?

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

FM Qureshi in Kabul for 'high-level' talks on bilateral relations

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Kabul on Thursday, leading a high-level delegation to meet with Afghan officials and leaders on bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.

In a photo released by the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul, Qureshi can be seen shaking hands with Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at an airport tarmac. In the background, Inter Services Intelligence chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed can be seen disembarking the plane alongside other officials of the Pakistani delegation.

"During the one-day visit, he will hold talks with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and call on [the] leadership of the interim government in Kabul. He will meet other Afghan dignitaries as well," the FO statement reads.

The talks will cover the "entire spectrum" of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan with a focus on methods to deepen cooperation between the two countries in diverse areas, the FO said.

"Utilising the opportunity, the foreign minister will share Pakistan’s perspective on issues of regional peace and stability."

The FO statement said that as a "close fraternal neighbour", Pakistan had always stood by Afghanistan, mentioning a number of measures in this regard such as keeping border crossing points open, the institution of a facilitative visa regime for Afghan nationals and provision of humanitarian aid and assistance in the form of food items and medicines.

"The foreign minister’s visit reflects Pakistan’s consistent policy of supporting the brotherly Afghan people, deepening bilateral trade and economic relations, and facilitating closer people-to-people contacts," the FO said.

Moscow talks
FM Qureshi's visit comes while Russia is hosting the Taliban for talks in Moscow.

Attending the talks on Wednesday, Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq emphasised the need for extending humanitarian support to Afghanistan, saying that the international community "must step up efforts" for the purpose.

Ambassador Sadiq conveyed to the other participants of the meeting, including a Taliban delegation, that peace in Afghanistan would benefit the entire region in terms of stability, secure borders, enhanced connectivity, return of refugees and countering terrorism, a statement issued by the envoy said.

He reiterated Pakistan’s firm belief that peace went hand in hand with prosperity and economic stability and highlighted that "Pakistan's constructive role in [the] Afghan peace process is well-recognised and acknowledged by the international community."

https://www.dawn.com/news/1653196/fm-qureshi-in-kabul-for-high-level-talks-on-bilateral-relations

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Will Pakistan become the first country to officially recognise the Taliban ?

 

[MenInG]

At least two soldiers of Frontier Corps (FC) embraced martyrdom when the troops intercepted terrorists attempting to cross the fence along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram district, the military said.

According to Inter Services Public relations (ISPR), the incident occurred on the night between October 26 and 27. "Troops initiated a prompt response and thwarted the attempted illegal crossing by engaging the terrorists," it added.

The ISPR said that during the intense fire exchange, 24-year-old Lance Naik Asad from Kurram and 21-year-old Sepoy Asif from Lakki Marwat embraced martyrdom.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expects that interim Afghan government will not allow such activities against Pakistan, in future," the statement from the military's media wing read.

It further said that Pakistan Army is determined to guard Pakistan's frontiers against the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.

In a similar incident in May, at least one army soldier sustained injuries when terrorists from Afghanistan opened fire from across the border on a military post in Bajaur district.

In the same month, at least four personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) were martyred while six others were injured in a terrorist attack in Balochistan's Zhob district.

The FC troopers were part of a fencing party working on the Pak-Afghan border when they came under attack from Afghanistan.

"[The attack took place] today during [a] fencing activity in Manzakai sector, district Zhob, Balochistan along [the] Pak-Afghan border," read a statement from the ISPR.

"Terrorists from across Afghanistan ambushed FC troops moving for fencing. 4 FC soldiers embraced shahadat while 6 got injured. FC troops responded promptly," the communiqué added.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1655514/a-spoiler-cant-be-a-peacemaker-moeed-yusuf-says-will-not-attend-indian-moot-on-afghanistan

National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf on Tuesday categorically said that he would not attend an upcoming moot on the Afghanistan issue hosted by India.

The NSA was addressing a news conference in Islamabad after Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed a Protocol on the Establishment of Joint Security Commission that was followed by the inaugural session of the commission.

According to the Hindustan Times, regional countries including China, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been invited to the meeting which is expected to be held in New Delhi on November 10.

"I will not go, a spoiler can't be a peacemaker," Yusuf said in response to a question by a reporter about whether Pakistan will be attending.

The NSA regretted the international community's silence over human rights violations and Indian state-sponsored terrorism in occupied Kashmir, and New Delhi's expansionist vision which was leading the region nowhere.

Questioned on what hurdles Pakistan was facing in the region to achieve peace and progress, the NSA said: "I think the region's obstacles are in front of you, there is no need for debate on this. On one hand is India [...] unfortunately [because of] the government's behaviour and ideology there, I don't see how this [peace] process will move forward — not just for Pakistan but the region."

He said all regions needed to be concerned if a major country started going down a similar path as India. "The world has unfortunately kept its eyes closed and isn't talking to India as it should."

The NSA also pointed out an "opportunity" instead of an obstacle, saying that if peace was established in Afghanistan then it could become a major hub as a corridor of connectivity.

The NSA was also questioned about the comments of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority czar Khalid Mansoor who last month alleged that the United States was trying to derail the project.

Yusuf said he had talked to Mansoor himself on the matter and "we confirmed that he was quoted completely out of context."

He said that he had a "clear stance" that the world would do what it wanted but Pakistan needed to ensure that its targets were met, any weaknesses were removed and strengths were further worked upon.

Yusuf also said that that Western countries may have the luxury to disengage from Afghanistan but Pakistan did not have that option.

The NSA said that Pakistan was criticised sometimes for being proactive in promoting engagement with Afghanistan. Explaining the rationale behind the stance, Yusuf said: "It may be a luxury for the Western world sitting 10,000 miles away [to not bother about Afghanistan] but we do not have any option to disengage from Afghanistan."

Yusuf said the world needed to coordinate and constructively engage with the present Afghan government to avert a humanitarian crisis for the sake of the country's people — warning that a worse situation might develop if this was not done.

"This is not a matter of the Taliban or some other government but of the ordinary Afghan [citizens]."

He said that Afghanistan was in a state of war for four decades and its direct impact had been felt by Pakistan in lives lost, economic losses and rise in terrorism.

"We are the biggest victim of this [instability in Afghanistan] so when we talk about stability in Afghanistan then one [reason] is that it is the right of our Afghan brothers and sisters [...] but secondly it is also necessary for our national security that there is stability in Afghanistan and continuous peace is established.

"It is our right as Pakistan to remind the world about this," the NSA said.

He reiterated that engagement with Afghanistan was not a political matter for Pakistan but a "humanitarian one and a matter of our national security".

Yusuf said Uzbekistan shared the same stance with Pakistan on the war-torn country and there was a long discussion on the issue in today's meeting.

Regarding the details of the newly set up commission and what issues were discussed, Yusuf said it encompassed matters ranging from transnational crime, drug trafficking, cooperation against terrorism and mutual capacity building in areas such as disaster management.

He said the issues would be further developed in the form of working groups and previous existing agreements would also be "revitalised" and taken forward in the same way.

The NSA lamented that Pakistan had perhaps not benefitted from its geographical position in the past as it should have but now under the government's geo-economic paradigm, the process of connectivity via Pakistan was important.

He said the Central Asian states would be a "crucial element" in the future for fulfilling Pakistan's geo-economic vision, adding that Uzbekistan, in particular, had a "critical role" to play.

A press release issued by the National Security Division said that Yusuf met with Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan Lieutenant General Victor Makhmudov who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan.

Regarding the signed protocol, the press release said that it "covered wide-ranging security related [to] matters of mutual interest and established [a] coordination mechanism between Pakistan's National Security Division and the Security Council of Uzbekistan".

"During the inaugural session, both sides discussed various aspects of the newly formed joint commission and the way forward for making the commission effective and mutually beneficial," the press release reads.

Yusuf said Central Asia was a priority for Pakistan since tapping into the region would open up access and allow it to benefit from the bloc's markets and energy reserves.

 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have been warning of this humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Now WFP chief issues alert. Pak will continue to provide all possible relief but int community must act now. It has moral obligation to avert this humanitarian disaster confronting Afghan ppl.<a href="https://t.co/SYt9QChyUK">https://t.co/SYt9QChyUK</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1457970313422061568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Pakistan said on Friday it would “favourably consider” Afghanistan’s request for transportation of wheat offered by India through the Wagah border as part of its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Last month India announced 50,000 metric tons of wheat for Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance and requested Pakistan to ship the food grain via Wagah border.

Pakistan has not yet responded to the Indian request as normally it doesn’t allow the two-way trade for India and Afghanistan through the Wagah border. It only allows Afghanistan to export goods to India.

But a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said that Pakistan would consider allowing the Indian wheat to pass through its border.

“The prime minister conveyed that in the current context Pakistan would favourably consider the request by Afghan brothers for transportation of wheat offered by India through Pakistan on exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes and as per modalities to be worked out,” the official handout said.

The development is significant on two counts: one, the Taliban government accepted the Indian aid and, two, Pakistan allowed it to be delivered through Wagha despite suspension of bilateral trade and overall tense relationship.

But Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Afghan ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson, claimed that the prime minister of Pakistan allowed India to send wheat to Afghanistan via Wagha border.

According to spokesperson, Muttaqi requested Imran for further facilitation at Torkham and Chaman crossings and for Afghan trade goods transit to Pakistan ports.

“H.E Imran Khan pledged that Afghan transit via Pakistan would be significantly facilitated, Indian assisted wheat allowed to reach Afghanistan via Wagah port as well as visa services facilitated, adding that he would help pave the way for continued humanitarian aid, in resolving existing political challenges on international stage and attracting humanitarian assistance, “Balkhi tweeted.

The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to Afghanistan and the Afghan people in overcoming the dire challenges being faced by their country. The prime minister stressed the vital importance of a peaceful, stable, sovereign, prosperous and connected Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region.

Prime Minister Imran underlined that the continued security and resolute counter-terrorism actions, respect for rights of all Afghans, and inclusivity in governance and politics would further contribute to Afghanistan’s stability.

The prime minister hoped that the interim Afghan government would continue to constructively engage the international community and will keep on taking positive measures to address the prevailing challenges.

He added that Pakistan had been consistently calling for provision of immediate humanitarian relief for Afghanistan. Imran also underscored the urgent need for releasing Afghanistan’s frozen assets and facilitation of banking transactions to prevent an economic meltdown.

Imran reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to stand by the Afghan people by extending all possible support, including humanitarian assistance-in-kind, to withstand the coming winter season.

In addition to the assistance already extended, the prime minister stated that Pakistan would provide essential food items, including wheat and rice, emergency medical supplies, and shelter items for Afghanistan.

Imran also stressed the need for the two countries to work together to facilitate the movement of people, trade, transit and regional connectivity for the promotion of progress and prosperity in the region.

Muttaqi was on a three-day visit to Pakistan. On Thursday he attended a meeting of the Troika Plus, comprising special envoys on Afghanistan from Pakistan, Russia, China and the US, in Islamabad. The Troika Plus asked the Taliban government to meet the international expectations.

On Friday, the special envoys from Russia, China and the US called on Prime Minister Imran Khan. During the meeting, Imran underlined the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for security and prosperity of the entire region.

The prime minister said that he had consistently stressed that there was no military solution in Afghanistan. As such, Pakistan had all along supported an inclusive political settlement.

In the changed environment, the prime minister underscored the importance of inclusivity, respect of human rights, and resolute counter-terrorism actions.

Imran stressed the need for the international community to have a pragmatic approach and constructive engagement with Afghanistan to address mutual concerns and promote common interests of Troika Plus countries.

The prime minister laid a strong emphasis on provision of urgent humanitarian assistance as well as economic support to Afghanistan to avert the twin challenges of humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.

He hoped that the international community would recognise the gravity of the situation and take urgent measures, including release of frozen assets to help alleviate the sufferings of Afghan people. The prime minister highlighted the crucial role of Troika Plus in this context.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2329126/pakistan-to-consider-transit-of-indian-wheat-to-afghanistan

 

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ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday announced the government’s decision to allow the 50,000 MT of wheat India has offered to provide Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance to go through Pakistan as soon as modalities are finalised with the Indian side, an official statement said.

"Pakistan will also facilitate the return of Afghan patients who had gone to India for medical treatment and are stuck there," the premier announced, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

India last month announced the assistance for Afghanistan and sought Pakistan’s permission to ship the food grain through the Wagah crossing. Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who visited Islamabad earlier this month, also made a request to PM Imran for letting the Indian wheat pass through the Wagah crossing.

The prime minister had said that Pakistan would “favourably consider” the request and directed the authorities to work out modalities.

The development is significant given the current state of bilateral ties between Pakistan and India and also keeping in mind that Pakistan does not otherwise allow a two-way trade between Afghanistan and India. Islamabad only allows Afghanistan to export its goods through the Wagah border to India.

Importantly, the Taliban government in Afghanistan is ready to accept humanitarian assistance from India, which otherwise does not maintain any contact with them. But since the Taliban took control of Kabul, there have been efforts on part of India to reach out to the Taliban.

The announcement was made during his visit to the newly established Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC), where he chaired the first Apex Committee meeting of AICC.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Adviser on Finance Shaukat Fayaz Tarin, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf and senior civil and military officers.

The prime minister instructed all ministries to facilitate Afghans to the maximum, ordering an immediate shipment of in-kind humanitarian assistance worth Rs5 billion, which will comprise food commodities including 50,000 MT of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters and other supplies.

He also approved in-principle tariff and sales tax reduction on key Afghan exports to Pakistan. He ordered that the facility of free Covid vaccination for all Afghans entering Pakistan from land borders be continued.

According to the PMO statement, PM Imran announced Pakistan’s decision to allow the 50,000 MT of wheat India has offered to provide Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance to go through Pakistan as soon as modalities are finalised with the Indian side.

Welcoming the prime minister, Dr Moeed, who is also the convener of AICC, made a detailed presentation to brief the civil and military leadership on the current economic situation in Afghanistan and the progress made by AICC in coordinating national efforts for humanitarian assistance and border facilitation for Afghans.

PM Imran appreciated the work of the AICC in coordinating Pakistan’s policy and expressed satisfaction at the improved border management protocols.

He ordered that capacity of border staff be enhanced further and instructed that no arbitrary closures of borders for trade should be allowed.

The prime minister, the statement said, also ordered that bus service between Peshawar and Jalalabad be revived to facilitate travellers on both sides. "To further facilitate Afghans, the visa duration will be relaxed such that visas are granted within three weeks at the most."

According to PMP, the participants expressed concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and emphasised that Pakistan will not abandon Afghans in their time of need.

The prime minister took the opportunity to remind the international community of the collective responsibility to support Afghanistan to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

He highlighted that Afghans were one of the bravest nations on earth who can meet any adversity but that the world owed its support to ensure that they can live in a peaceful and stable environment after years of constant conflict.

A senior delegation of Afghan health officials will visit Islamabad later this week to work out modalities for Pakistan’s support to Afghanistan’s health sector.

Meanwhile, the premier instructed the NSA to visit Afghanistan to hold delegation-level talks and agree on specific areas where immediate capacity-building support shall be provided to Afghans.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233056...RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI

 

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Islamabad and New Delhi have locked horns over the modalities of shipment of Indian wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan as both neighbours struggle to find a common strategy for humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, officials familiar with the development told The Express Tribune.

Last week, Pakistan decided to allow India to transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and other humanitarian goods to Afghanistan through the Wagah border in a move Islamabad said was made on "exceptional basis" keeping in view the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan.

The modalities for the transportation of India assistance were shared with the Indian government through its mission in Islamabad. As per modalities, Pakistan had proposed transportation of wheat on Pakistani trucks to be operated by the United Nations. The Pakistani trucks under the banner of UN would load wheat at the Wagah crossing and then take it to Afghanistan.

Read more: ‘Exceptional basis’ for Wagah transit of Afghan wheat

The shipment charges would be paid by the Indian government. India has to complete the transportation within 30 days of the commencement of first shipment. It is estimated that about 1,200 trucks would be needed to ship 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat.

But, according to diplomatic sources, India objected to the Pakistani modalities, insisting no conditions should be attached with humanitarian assistance.

Contrary to Pakistan’s proposal, India has suggested that the wheat should be transported either in the Indian or Afghan trucks. But Pakistan stood its ground, insisting the shipment should be carried out by Pakistani trucks under the UN banner.

At a regular briefing last Thursday, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi insisted that no conditions should be attached by Pakistan to the shipment of the humanitarian assistance.

“This was about humanitarian access into Afghanistan for the delivery of the 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and life-saving medicines we are supplying to the people of Afghanistan,” he said.

“We are examining the response of the government of Pakistan. We are also working on the modalities with the Pakistan side. We believe that humanitarian assistance should not be subject to conditionalities,” he added.

Also read: India allowed Wagah transit of Afghan wheat

But Pakistani officials said Islamabad did not attach any conditions and added modalities were meant to ensure smooth shipment of Indian assistance.

A Foreign Office official while speaking on condition of anonymity said India seemed to be playing politics. "If India is sincere in sending aid to Afghanistan then it should not have any objections to our modalities," the official added.

The official further said India in any case could have transported the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan via Chabahar Port or even Karachi port.

Despite differences, one official said both sides might find a common ground and some decision is expected this week.

Pakistan has created exception by allowing India to use Wagah border to transport wheat to Afghanistan as otherwise it does not permit two way trade between Afghanistan and India. It only permits Afghanistan to exports goods to India using Wagah border.

Islamabad allowed Indian wheat to pass through its land route after the Taliban government also made a request.

Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Itikhar told reporters last week that the decision of allowing India to transport wheat was taken keeping in view the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and must not serve as precedent for future trans shipments.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan has turned down the Indian proposal seeking transportation of 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat as humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan either in Indian or Afghan trucks through the Wagah border, said officials who felt New Delhi was dragging its feet by suggesting "unfeasible" options.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that India seemed to be deliberately spreading "misinformation" about Pakistani modalities for the shipment of humanitarian assistance via the Wagah border. As per the modalities, Pakistan proposed that trucks under the banner of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) should transport the wheat and other essentials from India to Afghanistan.

Pakistan already took WFP on board and the UN agency was ready to execute the plan, a senior Foreign Office official said requesting anonymity. The official clarified that the Pakistani modalities should not be seen as conditions. Rather, he added, they were meant to facilitate India’s humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.

However, India made a counter proposal and suggested that the wheat should be shipped either in Indian or Pakistani trucks. "This option is not feasible," said the official, who then explained that India was given permission to use Pakistan’s land route on exceptional basis.

“Since there is no two-way trade between Afghanistan and India through Pakistan, even New Delhi knows its trucks cannot be used for the transportation of wheat.” The official said if Pakistan allowed Indian trucks and their crew to use its land route, some incident might happen that would trigger a diplomatic crisis. Secondly, Pakistan did consider the option of using Afghan trucks. However, it was told that Afghan trucks used Pakistani lorries for exports to India.

Afghan trucks transfer goods destined for India on Pakistani trucks because of documentations and other requirements. They unload the consignments at the Wagah border. "Therefore, the option of using Indian or Afghan trucks is not feasible," the official maintained. Pakistani authorities feel that India is now dragging its feet after it realised that Islamabad was ready to create an exception for New Delhi’s humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.

The official said Prime Minister Imran Khan had given clear instructions that Indian humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan must be facilitated in every way. “It is because of this reason that Pakistan has informed India to complete the transportation at the earliest,” the official said. "The ball is in India’s court. There is no delay on our part," he added.

In October this year, India announced 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat for Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance and sought Pakistan’s permission to transport it through the Wagah border. Pakistan agreed to allow India to use the Wagah border to transport wheat to Afghanistan as otherwise it does not allow two-way trade between Kabul and New Delhi.

It only permits Afghanistan to export goods to India using the Wagah border. Islamabad allowed Indian wheat to pass through its land route after the Taliban government also made a request.

Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Itikhar told reporters last week that the decision of allowing India to transport wheat was taken keeping in view the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and must not serve as a precedent for future shipments.

However, it appears that the two sides have reached a deadlock on how to execute the plan.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2332067/islamabad-snubs-delhis-wheat-transit-proposal