Pakistan will do whatever possible to reduce violence in Afghanistan, says PM Imran on maiden visit

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will travel to Kabul on Thursday at the invitation of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, confirmed Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan visiting Kabul tomorrow for meeting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to discuss strengthening of bilateral ties⁦," said Ambassador Mansoor.

Last week, Afghan Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gran Hewad had announced that the PM Imran's visit will focus on the Afghan peace process and strengthening political, security, trade and economic ties will be discussed during this trip.

"The trip happens after President Ghani’s telephonic conversation with Imran Khan last month," Hewad was quoted by Afghan media outlet Tolo News.

This will be PM Imran's first visit to the war-torn country since assuming office in 2018.

The visit comes as the stalemate continues in the Afghan peace talks being held in Doha between the Afghan government and Taliban to end the more than decade long conflict in the country.

PM Imran has maintained that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict. He has also backed the peace process and a political solution in the country brought about by the people of Afghanistan.

The PM has stated multiple times that the peace in Afghanistan would be beneficial for the entire region as it would create new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation as well as regional connectivity.

The visit also comes day after PM's Adviser on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razzak Dawood returns from a three-day trip to Afghanistan.

Dawood had held meetings with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and other leaders of the country.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, tomorrow (November 19, 2020), according to the Foreign Office, in what will become his first-ever visit to Pakistan's west-side neighbour since assuming office in 2018.

PM Imran Khan, who will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, and other senior officials, is visiting Afghanistan on President Ashraf Ghani's invitation.

In its statement, the Foreign Office said the premier's "programme includes tete-e-tete with President Ashraf Ghani, delegation-level talks, and joint press stake-out".

"The focus would be on further deepening the fraternal bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity," the statement added.

'High-level exchanges'
The visit also comes as "part of regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan", with Ghani last meeting PM Imran during a visit to Islamabad in June 2019, both holding a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 14th OIC Summit in Makkah in May 2019, and a telephonic conversation between the two in September 2020.

The FO's statement confirmed the announcement earlier today by Pakistan's envoy to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan, who said the premier will "discuss strengthening of bilateral ties⁦" with Ghani.

The PM's visit will build upon the sustained engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

Recent interactions between Pakistan, Afghanistan
Top government officials from the two countries have been in touch frequently over the past, including FM Qureshi's regular exchanges with his Afghan counterpart, as well as the visits of Chairperson High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Speaker Afghan Wolesi Jirga Rahman Rahmani, and Commerce Minister Nisar Ahmad Ghoraini.

"On 31 August 2020, the Second Review Session of the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) was held in Kabul," the statement noted.

Prior to PM Imran Khan's visit, Dawood, the commerce adviser, had visited Kabul on November 16-18, 2020, whence he held in-depth talks on bilateral trade and investment ties and matters related to transit trade.

"The Prime Minister’s visit will help foster a stronger and multi-faceted relationship between the two brotherly countries," the statement added.

PM maintains no military solution to Afghan conflict
Last week, Afghan Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gran Hewad had announced that the PM Imran's visit will focus on the Afghan peace process and strengthening political, security, trade and economic ties will be discussed during this trip.

"The trip happens after President Ghani’s telephonic conversation with Imran Khan last month," Hewad was quoted by Afghan media outlet Tolo News.

Read more: PM Imran Khan warns against ‘spoilers’ in talks with Afghanistan’s Hekmatyar

The visit comes as the stalemate continues in the Afghan peace talks being held in Doha between the Afghan government and Taliban to end the more than decade long conflict in the country.

PM Imran has maintained that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict. He has also backed the peace process and a political solution in the country brought about by the people of Afghanistan.

The PM has stated multiple times that the peace in Afghanistan would be beneficial for the entire region as it would create new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation as well as regional connectivity.

 

[Madplayer]

PM Imran Khan leaves for Kabul on maiden visit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan departed for his maiden visit to Afghanistan Thursday morning.

The premier is travelling to the neighbouring country on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's invitation. The move is seen as an effort to building on sustained engagement between the two countries in recent months for enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

PM Imran had last held a bilateral meeting with Afghanistan’s Ghani on the sidelines of the 14th OIC Summit in Makkah in May 2019. The prime minister also had a telephonic conversation with President Ashraf Ghani in September 2020.

Read more:Afghan peace talks: What’s the rush?

Announcing the prime minister’s first visit to the war-torn country, the Foreign Office said that the delegation would include the foreign minister, adviser for commerce and investment, and senior officials.

“The prime minister’s visit is part of regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani had last visited Pakistan in June 2019,” read the FO statement.

The prime minister’s programme includes tete-e-tete with President Ashraf Ghani, delegation-level talks, and joint press stake-out.

“The focus would be on further deepening the fraternal bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity,” added the Foreign Office.

Read moreakistan to cooperate with whoever Afghans bring to power, says PM Imran

In this context, besides the foreign minister’s regular exchanges with his Afghan counterpart, there have recently been important visits from Afghanistan to Pakistan of Chairman High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Speaker Afghan Wolesi Jirga Rahman Rahmani and Commerce Minister Nisar Ahmad Ghoraini.

On August 31, 2020, the Second Review Session of the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) was held in Kabul.

As part of this process, and in the run-up to the prime minister’s forthcoming visit, Adviser on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood visited Kabul from 16-18 November 2020.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ge...o-arrive-in-afghanistan-on-maiden-visit-today

 

[Madplayer]

I hope this is a safe visit. Imran has lots of enemies and Afghanistan is a breeding ground for them.

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Kabul on Thursday to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at a time when peace negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives have stalled and violence is rising.

This will be the premier's first visit to Afghanistan since assuming office over two years ago. It is the highest-profile visit by a Pakistani official to Kabul since peace talks began between the Taliban and the Afghan government in the Qatari capital of Doha.

The prime minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence Lt Gen Faiz Hamid, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood, Adviser on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Representative for Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq and other senior officials.

The prime minister was received by the Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Afghan President's Special Representative for Pakistan Mohammad Umer Daudzai on his arrival in the country's capital.

Later Prime Minister Imran was presented a guard of honour at the presidential palace.

Withdrawal of US troops

The visit comes days after the Pentagon announced it would reduce the number of United States military personnel in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by mid-January.

Due to leave office on Jan 20 after losing this month’s presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden, President Donald Trump is seeking to end the 19-year war in Afghanistan, the United States’ longest conflict.

Critics slammed Trump for timing the withdrawal to his own calendar as opposed to some kind of breakthrough in Afghanistan that would justify a major drawdown.

And outside of Afghanistan, nowhere is the risk of instability greater than in neighbouring Pakistan.

Mistrust has cloaked relations between the neighbours. As militants later began launching attacks inside Pakistan, it accused Afghanistan of stirring trouble in its borders.

Focus on deepening ties

“Focus would be on further deepening the fraternal bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity,” the foreign office said in a statement as the prime minister headed for

Pakistan’s role in the peace talks has been key, according to Washington, particularly given its influence over the Taliban leadership, though Pakistan says that influence has waned over the years.

Washington’s special representative for Afghan peace, Zalmay Khalilzad has made a number of trips to Islamabad to discuss the peace process.

Ghani had last visited Pakistan in June 2019, according to the FO.

A spokesman for the Afghan presidential palace, Dawa Khan Minapal, said the main purpose of the visit would be bilateral trade and economic relations, but the fight against militancy in the region would also be at the top of the agenda.

“The focus will be mainly on the peace process but we won’t keep our hopes high,” said a source in the Afghan presidential palace.

Violence has remained high in Afghanistan despite the ongoing peace process.

During the past six months, the Taliban have carried out 53 suicide attacks, while 1,210 civilians were among the thousands killed in violence linked to the insurgency, according to Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry.

 

[MenInG]

During his maiden visit to Kabul on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan will do whatever is possible to help reduce violence in Afghanistan and establish durable peace.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace, the premier said that the two countries have historical links.

"The idea of visiting at a time when violence is increasing [in Afghanistan] is to assure you, President Ghani, that the people and the government of Pakistan have only one concern; peace in Afghanistan.

"The Afghan people have suffered for four decades," he said. The premier also noted that despite the role Pakistan has played in getting the Taliban to speak with Americans and with regards to intra-Afghan dialogue, the level of violence has risen in Afghanistan.

Assuring the Afghan leadership that Pakistan will play its part in reducing violence in the country, he said: "If you feel there is somewhere Pakistan can help [in reducing violence], please let us know.

"We assure you that we will do whatever is within our reach," he said. He stated that one of the reasons Islamabad was pushing for peace in Afghanistan is because of Pakistan's tribal areas which were devastated by the 'war on terror'.

"The only way to help people on both sides of the border is by peace, trade and connectivity," he said.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Afghanistan National Cricket Team presents a signed bat to Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a>. President <a href="https://twitter.com/ashrafghani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashrafghani</a> is also present.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeaceAmbassadorPMIK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PeaceAmbassadorPMIK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMIKinKabul?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMIKinKabul</a> <a href="https://t.co/g4FrfAIlPJ">pic.twitter.com/g4FrfAIlPJ</a></p>— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1329410597495123973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Great to see.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I hope this is a safe visit. Imran has lots of enemies and Afghanistan is a breeding ground for them.

Worry not. Imran himself is of similar ethnic background to leaders of Afghanistan. You will have seen the line in Sholay, "loha lohe ko katta hai"

It will take a leader of Imran's stature to meet Afghans head on and appeal to their better nature. Of course that doesn't mean better nature will necessarily outweigh enemy gold, but we have to believe there is a better way.

 

[MenInG]

Some protests in Afghanistan (Khost & Paktia)

 

[MenInG]

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has visited neighbouring Afghanistan, where he vowed to “do everything” to help curb violence and push for a ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan forces.

Khan’s first visit to Kabul as prime minister comes as violence escalates in the war-torn nation, threatening peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban that began in Doha in September.

“We notice with concern that the level of violence despite the talks in Qatar, is rising,” Khan said in a press conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday.

Khan said he had chosen this moment to visit Kabul to assure the Afghan government that “Pakistan will do everything, whatever is possible, we will do to help reduce this violence and in fact move towards a ceasefire”.

Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar and Ghani’s special envoy for Pakistan Omar Daudzay received the visiting dignitary at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Meanwhile, Ghani said the common objective for the two countries was to “overcome the distrust that has haunted our relationship”.

“We have come to an understanding that a shared vision regarding cooperation is not only essential for relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but a harbinger of regional cooperation, connectivity,” he added.

“And I would like to inform the media that within a short period I would be honoured to accept your invitation to visit the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”

Graan Hewad, spokesman for the Afghan Foreign Ministry, said that the visiting prime minister would share his views with the Afghan leadership about Islamabad’s role in the peace process.

Earlier a Pakistani statement said that the focus of the talks would be “on further deepening the fraternal bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan peace process, and regional economic development and connectivity”.

Khan was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his adviser on commerce and investment, Razzaq Dawood.

The Pakistani prime minister’s visit comes at a time of heightened engagement between the two neighbours, with numerous Afghan government officials visiting Pakistan in the preceding months, including Afghan peace chief Abdullah Abdullah, speaker of Afghanistan’s lower house of Parliament Rahman Rahmani and Commerce Minister Nisar Ahmad Ghoraini.

In October, Pakistan also hosted Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of the Hizb-e-Islami, an armed group that laid down weapons in 2016.

Agenda of talks
The peace talks between Afghan government negotiators and the Afghan Taliban in the Qatari capital Doha will be in focus during Khan’s visit.

Historic talks between the two sides to end a 19-year war in Afghanistan kicked off in September after the United States had earlier signed an agreement with the Afghan Taliban in February.

While the talks continue, progress has been slow, and both sides are yet to agree on a framework for how to proceed.

On Tuesday, the US announced it would be sharply reducing the number of US troops in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 before current President Donald Trump leaves office in mid-January, accelerating the country’s military disengagement.

The announcement came as there has been an uptick in violence, with the Taliban continuing to carry out attacks targeting government leaders, security forces and civilians.

Following the US announcement, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that a “hasty” withdrawal by the US, which lead’s NATO’s coalition in Afghanistan, could lead to further violence.

“We now face a difficult decision. We have been in Afghanistan for almost 20 years, and no NATO ally wants to stay any longer than necessary. But at the same time, the price for leaving too soon or in an uncoordinated way could be very high,” Stoltenberg said in a statement on Monday.

Also likely to be on the agenda for Thursday’s talks will be recent Pakistani allegations that India, with whom it has fought three full-scale wars since the two countries gained independence, has used Afghan soil to “sponsor terrorism” in Pakistan.

On Sunday, a day after the allegations were made, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry “strongly rejected” the accusations.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after carefully reviewing the video of the press conference, rejects the allegation and reiterates that there is absolutely no evidence that Malik (Feraydoon Khan) Mohmand, one of the tribal leaders of Nangarhar province, was involved in the terrorist attacks on the Peshawar Agricultural University,” said the Afghan statement.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/19/pakistan-pm-khan-headed-for-his-maiden-afghan-visit

 

[JaDed]

Afghans have some issues with Pakistan, even in the books they(or foreign Afghan nationals) write (A thousand splendid Suns) nothing good is written about Pakistani Establishment.. although average Pakistani citizens are mentioned in a good light.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pleased to see respected PM <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> together with my Pre.<a href="https://twitter.com/ashrafghani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashrafghani</a> & meeting my team. I strongly believe that sport has the power to inspire & unit people. Sport creates hope,unity, love & peace. Wish one day our national teams can host each other at home & play cricket. <a href="https://t.co/z5XXqxNNuz">pic.twitter.com/z5XXqxNNuz</a></p>— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashidkhan_19/status/1329481929721344003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bewal Express]

It will be a one of the achievements of the recent era if a 40 year conflict can be brought to end by IK. IA his sincerity is repaid

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The funniest thing is the smile on Afghan VP Amrullah Saleh's face. Few hate Pakistan as much as him.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

As much as one hopes the relationship between the two countries changes, it is unlikely that will happen.

Afghanistan will continue to be a launching pad for terrorism in the future because the issues of; rule of law, stability, and the writ of the state are unlikely to change in Afghanistan in the near future. It is simply too easy for India to use it as a point for subversive activities against Pakistan, even if the Afghan government is not culpable.

And while its great Pakistan is doing its best to facilitate peace in Afghanistan we all know that it is only a matter of time before the Taliban seize power and once that happens there is only more instability bound to ensue.

 

[MenInG]

 

[Nadeemp]

Hope it works out

 

[Last Monetarist]

Hope that Imran remains committed to improving our diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. There's so much potential if both countries work together.

 

[Pakpak]

The funniest thing is the smile on Afghan VP Amrullah Saleh's face. Few hate Pakistan as much as him.

He despises Pakistan, you're right.

Also hilarious how for the Afghans history only starts from the 1990's. They had been involved in destabalising Pakistan since the 50's. And at one occasion even tried to foolishly invade KPK and later on went to support every movement in KPK along with openly supporting every single Pashtun national rebel movemen.t

Absolutely deserved the retaliation from our side.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He despises Pakistan, you're right.

Also hilarious how for the Afghans history only starts from the 1990's. They had been involved in destabalising Pakistan since the 50's. And at one occasion even tried to foolishly invade KPK and later on went to support every movement in KPK along with openly supporting every single Pashtun national rebel movemen.t

Absolutely deserved the retaliation from our side.

They were the only country to oppose our membership to the United Nations and as you rightly pointed out, continued to fund movements to advance their irredentist claims over our territory. If Afghans bothered to read a single page of history they would know that it was their King, King Amanullah who affirmed the borders that constitute as the Pak-Afghan border today when he signed the Treaty of Rawalpindi with the British, a treaty which coincidentally also established Afghanistan as an independent state.

Even today when Afghanistan is a failed state, whose writ essentially ends outside Kabul, they are supporting PTM and the irony of the matter is how many of our own people consider it to be a civil rights movement when in reality it is an ethnofascist movement, something anyone who has heard their speeches could tell.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan on Saturday "strongly condemned" the rocket attacks in Kabul, which killed eight people and injured 31 others, warning of spoilers in the Afghanistan peace process.

In a statement, Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri conveyed Pakistan's "heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and prayed for early and complete recovery of the injured".

According to a report by Radio Pakistan, the spokesperson cautioned that it was "important to be vigilant of spoilers who are working to undermine the [Afghan] peace process" at a time when the international community's efforts were "moving forward".

At least eight people were killed when a barrage of rockets struck densely populated parts of Kabul, marking the latest big attack in a wave of violence sweeping the Afghan capital, just two days after Prime Minister Imran Khan visited the city to assure President Ashraf Ghani of Pakistan's utmost support in the peace process.

The salvo slammed into various parts of central and north Kabul — including in and around the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses embassies and international firms — just before 9am (0430 GMT).

The Iranian embassy said on Twitter that its main building had been hit by rocket fragments after a missile landed on the premises. No one on the compound, located just outside the Green Zone, was wounded.

Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian blamed the Taliban, saying “terrorists” had fired a total of 23 rockets.

“Based on initial information, eight people were martyred, and 31 others were wounded,” Arian said, noting the final toll would change.

The Taliban denied responsibility, saying they “do not blindly fire on public places”.

At least one rocket landed in an office inside the Green Zone, but did not explode.

People inspect a damaged house after several rockets land at Khair Khana, north west of Kabul on Saturday. — AFP
Photos and videos circulating online showed several buildings with damaged walls and windows, including at a large medical complex.

Later, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, in a statement on its Telegram channels.

It said 28 Katyusha rockets fired by “soldiers of the caliphate” hit Kabul's heavily fortified Green Zone that houses “the presidential palace, embassies of Crusader states, and the headquarters of Afghan forces”.

Pakistan to do 'everything' to reduce violence
On Thursday, during his maiden visit to Kabul, Prime Minister Imran Khan's said Pakistan will do everything possible to help reduce violence in Afghanistan and establish durable peace.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the Presidential Palace, the premier said: "The idea of visiting at a time when violence is increasing [in Afghanistan] is to assure you, President Ghani, that the people and the government of Pakistan have only one concern; peace in Afghanistan.

"The Afghan people have suffered for four decades," he said. The premier also noted that despite the role Pakistan has played in getting the Taliban to speak with Americans and with regards to intra-Afghan dialogue, the level of violence has risen in Afghanistan.

Assuring the Afghan leadership that Pakistan will play its part in reducing violence in the country, he said: "If you feel there is somewhere Pakistan can help [in reducing violence], please let us know.

"We assure you that we will do whatever is within our reach."

Recent big attacks in Kabul, including two horrific assaults on educational institutions that killed nearly 50 people in recent weeks, follow a familiar pattern in the aftermath, with the Taliban denying any involvement while the Afghan government pins the blame on them or their proxies.

“The rocket attack in Kabul city has nothing to do with the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, using the insurgents' name for Afghanistan.

The Taliban are under pressure not to attack urban areas, having pledged not to do so under the terms of a United States withdrawal deal signed in February.

Any acknowledgement of overt involvement in such incidents could in theory slow the American pull-out, though outgoing US President Donald Trump has made clear he wants US forces out regardless of the situation on the ground.

The Islamic State group claimed the two attacks on educational centres, but Kabul said the Taliban's ultra-violent Haqqani network was responsible.

Pompeo heads to Doha
Taliban and Afghan government negotiators launched peace talks in Doha in September but progress has been slow and violence has raged across Afghanistan regardless.

Officials told AFP on Friday however that a breakthrough was expected to be announced in the coming days, and the US State Department announced late Friday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would meet negotiators from the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha.

Trump has repeatedly vowed to end “forever wars”, including in Afghanistan, America's longest-ever conflict, which began with an invasion to dislodge the Taliban following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

President-elect Joe Biden, in a rare point of agreement with Trump, also advocates winding down the Afghanistan war although analysts believe he will not be as wedded to a quick timetable.

Earlier this week, the Pentagon said it would soon pull about 2,000 troops out of Afghanistan, speeding up the timeline established in a February agreement between Washington and the Taliban that envisions a full US withdrawal by mid-2021.

In the past six months, the Taliban has carried out 53 suicide attacks and 1,250 explosions that left 1,210 civilians dead and 2,500 wounded, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said this week.

The interior ministry said two small “sticky bomb” explosions had been reported earlier Saturday morning, including one that hit a police car, killing one policeman and wounding three others.

Source Dawn

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

They were the only country to oppose our membership to the United Nations and as you rightly pointed out, continued to fund movements to advance their irredentist claims over our territory. If Afghans bothered to read a single page of history they would know that it was their King, King Amanullah who affirmed the borders that constitute as the Pak-Afghan border today when he signed the Treaty of Rawalpindi with the British, a treaty which coincidentally also established Afghanistan as an independent state.

Even today when Afghanistan is a failed state, whose writ essentially ends outside Kabul, they are supporting PTM and the irony of the matter is how many of our own people consider it to be a civil rights movement when in reality it is an ethnofascist movement, something anyone who has heard their speeches could tell.

Regardless of where the blame lies, fuelling hatred doesn't do Afghans any good, and doesn't do much for Pakistan either. IK is right to try to bring some coolness to the situation and try to build bridges. Afghans are too poor to wish away Pakistan, and if Pakistan ceased to exist, they would have a big problem with their erstwhile friends India. History is testament to that.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Some protests in Afghanistan (Khost & Paktia)

Notice how none of the posters have Imran's face on them.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Regardless of where the blame lies, fuelling hatred doesn't do Afghans any good, and doesn't do much for Pakistan either. IK is right to try to bring some coolness to the situation and try to build bridges. Afghans are too poor to wish away Pakistan, and if Pakistan ceased to exist, they would have a big problem with their erstwhile friends India. History is testament to that.

I never said there shouldn't be peace or that fences should not be mended. I am simply speaking from a purely realist view-point of how things likely will end up despite the best intentions of those involved. Afghanistan at its current state is simply too unstable to not be a source of problem for us.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Notice how none of the posters have Imran's face on them.

There is great resentment towards Pakistan in certain areas, but there is also genuine goodwill in others. Reason being Afghanistan has people to people links with Pakistan that stretch back centuries.

 

[Mamoon]

Notice how none of the posters have Imran's face on them.

Because they are aware of the fact that Imran has no say in Pakistan’s foreign policy and strategic matters.

Imran Khan is not taken seriously internationally because every country is aware that the military runs the show in Pakistan.

 

[Firebat]

Suspected rickshaw bomb kills 15, mostly children, at Afghan Koran reading ceremony: official

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A suspected rickshaw bomb killed at least 15 civilians, including 11 children, on Friday at a Koran recitation ceremony in central Afghanistan, officials said.

Initial information suggested that explosives were placed in a rickshaw in a district of Ghazni province, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said. At least 20 people were wounded.

Afghanistan continues to be hit by violence even as the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban have been holding meetings since September to discuss an end to the 19-year war. Western countries have begun a sharp troop drawdown.

Most of the victims in Friday’s attack were under 18 years old, Wahidullah Jumazada, spokesman for the provincial governor of Ghazni, said.

Killings by small, magnetic bombs placed under vehicles have unnerving Afghan officials, activists and journalists, who blame the Taliban for the attacks.

At least 10 government officials and aides have been killed by “sticky bombs” in recent weeks, mostly in the capital, Kabul.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...koran-reading-ceremony-official-idUSKBN28S1DV

 

[The Viper]

Pakistan unveils details of new liberal visa policy for Afghanistan

In order to facilitate movement of Afghan nationals to Pakistan, the Pakistan embassy and its consulates in Afghanistan have taken several key measures to ensure implementation of new liberal visa policy “in letter and spirit”.

A statement issued on Tuesday by Pakistan embassy in Kabul shared the details of new measures taken to facilitative visa processing of large number of Afghan applicants which are as follows:

Number of windows for collection of visa application forms has been increased from 7 to 17, which has resulted in enhanced visas processing capacity for the applicants.

Issuance of long-term multiple entry visas to all categories of visitors (one to five year visas).

Taking a forward-looking friendly step, the embassy of Pakistan in Kabul and its consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif at the instruction of government have introduced online visa/e-visa for Afghan nationals. This enables the applicants to apply for visas online from the website visa.nadra.gov.pk on a 24/7 basis.

Separate windows have been designated for applicants for medical treatment, students and business people.

Separate windows have been designated for female visa applicants.

Students are being issued visas for their entire duration of studies according to the education programme in Pakistan.

As a result of these concrete measures, Pakistan’s authorities have issued 150,000 visas during the months of October and November alone, the statement said.

In addition to this, around 12,000 online e-visas have been issued by the embassy in Kabul during past one and a half months.

Due to the above stated facilitative steps, Pakistan has been able to manage the large number of visa applicants in a dignified manner.

“In this regard, the embassy would like to advise the visa applicants to come to the embassy during visa hours in the morning where enough visa processing capacity is available to entertain them,” the communiqué read.

The visa applicants do not need to wait for visas outside the embassy during night hours and Pakistani officials in the neighbouring will continue to process visas of Afghan nationals in a dignified and honourable way, it added.

The official statement further pointed out that visas for Afghan nationals except businessmen are without any fee. “The embassy reiterates that there is no visa agent for the embassy. The applicants are advised not to pay any fee/charges in the name of facilitation to process visa to any agents or middlemen.”

Pakistan’s consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif have also taken similar facilitative measures.

“The embassy once again thanks the Afghan authorities for assisting the mission for managing the large number of visa applicants on daily basis and looks forward to their continued cooperation and support.”

https://tribune.com.pk/story/227699...ls-of-new-liberal-visa-policy-for-afghanistan

 

[MenInG]

Afghan High Peace Council Chairman and leader of the Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami (Afghan Unity Party), Mohammad Karim Khalili, met Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa in separate meetings on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations and the Afghan peace process.

Khalili, who arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a three-day visit, met the prime minister in Islamabad and exchanged views on the Afghan peace process and relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to a report by Radio Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran emphasised his stance that there was "no military solution to the Afghan conflict and a negotiated political settlement is the only way forward".

"The prime minister reiterated Pakistan's consistent support to the Afghan peace process and underscored that the intra-Afghan negotiations must be pursued with perseverance and patience for an inclusive and broad-based solution," the report added.

The premier also shared Pakistan's commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship with Afghanistan, including trade and economic ties and people-to-people linkages.

Meeting with COAS
According to the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the AUP leader called on the army chief at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

"Matters of mutual interest, peace and stability in the region, connectivity and current developments in Afghan peace process were discussed during the meeting," the ISPR said in a statement.

During the meeting, Gen Bajwa said that peace in Afghanistan was linked to peace in Pakistan. "A stable and prosperous Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours is in Pakistan’s national interest," the statement quoted the COAS as saying.

Meeting with FM
Earlier today, Khalili, along with a delegation, met Foreign Minister Qureshi to discuss relations between the two countries and progress made in the Afghan peace process.

During the meeting, Qureshi reiterated Pakistan's desire for peace in the neighbouring country, saying that "after the Afghans, Pakistan was the country most desirous of peace in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan [has] always emphasised that there was no military solution of the Afghan conflict and that a negotiated political settlement was the only way forward," he said.

The minister "stressed the importance of an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political solution through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process", according to a statement from the Foreign Office.

Qureshi assured the visiting delegation that Pakistan would continue to facilitate the Afghan peace process, warning at the same time about 'spoilers' who he said did not want peace in the war-torn country.

He also reiterated Pakistan's call for all sides to take measures to reduce violence, eventually leading to a ceasefire.

The Afghan leadership should seize the "historic opportunity" for establishing peace in the country through the intra-Afghan negotiations, Qureshi said.

Bilateral relations also came under discussion in the meeting with the foreign minister highlighting the "steps taken by Pakistan to strengthen bilateral and transit trade and introduction of revised visa policy to facilitate Afghan nationals".

Read: Prime Minister Imran stresses need for lasting peace in Afghanistan

"Foreign minister Qureshi further expressed the hope that the return of peace and stability in Afghanistan would provide a strong impetus to economic development, regional integration, and connectivity, benefitting Afghanistan and the region.

"[He] also emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to safe and dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland," according to the FO.

The statement further said that Khalili thanked Pakistan for its "consistent support" through its efforts for the peace process as well as for "hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the last many decades".

He also "appreciated the various steps taken by Pakistan to strengthen trade between the two countries and facilitate Afghan nationals through revised visa policy".

 

[MenInG]

Karachi, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said his country has hopes for greater engagement with the new United States government and called on Joe Biden to follow up on the ongoing Afghan peace process and US troops withdrawal from the country.

“I think they [Biden administration] should realise there is an opportunity in Afghanistan and they should persevere with what was initiated and not reverse things,” Qureshi told Al Jazeera on Thursday.

“Push them forward, because, after a long time, we have started moving in the right direction.”

Direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, against whom the US has fought an almost 20-year war, are continuing in the Qatari capital Doha but progress remains slow.

There has been an increase in violence in recent weeks, with a surge in targeted attacks and bombings across the country for which the Afghan government has blamed the Taliban.

Pakistan facilitated the intra-Afghan talks and the US-Taliban dialogue and has now called for the US to stick to the agreements.

Former US President Donald Trump accelerated a timeline for troop withdrawal agreed with the Taliban in February last year, as the Biden administration comes in with 2,500 US soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan.

Under last year’s historic deal, all US troops are due to leave Afghanistan by April, but the Pentagon recently hinted it could delay that if violence does not abate.

“We are concerned because we feel violence can vitiate the climate,” Qureshi added.

“Pakistan has done a lot, we have really bent backwards to create an environment to facilitate the peace process,” he said, while blaming “spoilers” for the violence, identifying them as internal Afghan players “who have benefited from the war economy” and alleging that “there are elements from outside who do not share our vision, which is a peaceful, stable, prosperous Afghanistan.”

“It is a shared responsibility to begin with but the ultimate responsibility is with the Afghan leadership. It’s their country, it’s their future.”

Biden will inherit not only a tricky endgame to the US’s longest war but also a relationship with nuclear-armed Pakistan that sank to new lows during his previous stint in power.

Under former US President Barack Obama, when Biden was vice president, US-Pakistan relations were marked by bitter recriminations about the war in Afghanistan and the frequent US accusations of Pakistan supporting the Taliban and its ally, the Haqqani network.

In 2018, Trump slashed security assistance to Pakistan by $1.1bn over the same allegations, accusing Islamabad of having given the US “nothing but lies and deceit”.

Relations began to warm as the Trump administration took up direct negotiations with the Taliban – carried out mainly by the US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad – in a process facilitated by Pakistan.

“They should be supportive of what, I feel, is a convergence of interests,” said Qureshi.

“Our approach, thinking, objectives and shared visions are very much in line with the priorities of the new administration. And that convergence can be built further.”

At a US Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Biden’s Secretary of Defense nominee Lloyd Austin termed Pakistan “an essential partner” to peace in Afghanistan.

Qureshi also called on the US not to view Pakistan’s close ties with China – an economic and political rival to the US – as a “zero-sum game”.

“They have to understand that our relationship with China is not a zero-sum game for them,” he said, making note of China’s $60bn investment in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

“They [the US] should come, compete and invest.”

He added that Pakistan was willing to act as a mediator between China and the US, a role it played in 1972 when it facilitated talks to set up an historic visit to Beijing by then-President Richard Nixon.

“Pakistan traditionally has had the opportunity and has built bridges between the two. In this environment, where there is a change … Pakistan can be a bridge-builder.”

Al Jazeera

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The Afghan Vice President isn’t happy (although to be honest he never is)....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The voice(s) of the establishment in Pakistan say peace is a vital need & a must for Afghanistan & the second nation really benefiting from it will be Pakistan. They however add that CEASEFIRE isn't possible. Let's de-code this. Which part should be trusted the first or the 2nd.</p>— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmrullahSaleh2/status/1355410806360465411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Pakpak]

The Afghan Vice President isn’t happy (although to be honest he never is)....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The voice(s) of the establishment in Pakistan say peace is a vital need & a must for Afghanistan & the second nation really benefiting from it will be Pakistan. They however add that CEASEFIRE isn't possible. Let's de-code this. Which part should be trusted the first or the 2nd.</p>— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmrullahSaleh2/status/1355410806360465411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I read a few times when Karzai or Ghani wanted better relations with Pakistan this guy, everytime without fail, did his best to undermine those efforts.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I read a few times when Karzai or Ghani wanted better relations with Pakistan this guy, everytime without fail, did his best to undermine those efforts.

We see the same with the current BD president Sheikh Hasina, it is clear that they are in the pocket of regional wannabe powerbrokers. A few bombs going off here and there is probably just an inconvenience if their own bank balances are getting topped up nicely.

 

[observer1]

When Afghanistan is accommodating Indian Politicians and there is a plethora of evidence of Indian-backed sabotage against Pakistan, there will be little chance of peace.

 

[PakLFC]

It is for Afghans to decide what happens in there country. As long as there is no violence in Pak from Afghanistan it is good enough for me.

 

[Dark_Horse]

The Afghan Vice President isn’t happy (although to be honest he never is)....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The voice(s) of the establishment in Pakistan say peace is a vital need & a must for Afghanistan & the second nation really benefiting from it will be Pakistan. They however add that CEASEFIRE isn't possible. Let's de-code this. Which part should be trusted the first or the 2nd.</p>— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmrullahSaleh2/status/1355410806360465411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He would never want it being from northern alliance. Afghanistan is a complex ethnic society having around 60-40 Afghan-northern split that would mean no govt for him in both cases of democracy and authoritarianism

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1613025/food-security-climate-change-among-new-national-security-challenges-says-pm-imran

Commenting on regional peace, PM Imran said that economic prosperity cannot be sustained without peace in the neighborhood. “That is why my vision for the region is peace,” he said.

Good relations with countries and neighbours in the region were also paramount for national security, according to the premier. "We will not be able to take full advantage of our geo-strategic location until we have regional peace, until our relations with our neighbours and our trade ties do not improve."

The prime minister also addressed India and said it was "unfortunate" that it had rebuffed the PTI government's efforts for peace.

He said if India gave the people of occupied Kashmir their rights according to the United Nations Security Council resolutions then "the whole region will change and both the countries will benefit".

He lauded Pakistan's role in the Afghan peace process and said Pakistan had the "second biggest stake" in the country's peace.

The prime minister said that Pakistan wished for a political settlement to the Afghan conflict which can lead to sustainable peace. He said that “peace in Afghanistan is the key to unlocking the connectivity potential of the region”.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2290148/pakistans-support-crucial-for-peace-in-afghanistan-dr-abdullah

Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) of Afghanistan, has said that Pakistan’s consistent support for Afghan peace process is crucial for peaceful settlement in the war-torn country.

“There are no winners in fighting and there are no losers in peaceful settlement. The Taliban should hear from all countries including the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that continuation of the war does not have any support anywhere in the world,” he said while speaking to Express News anchorperson Rehman Azhar before heading to Moscow.

Talking about the trust factor between the two countries, he said that it is improving between Afghanistan and Pakistan and added that during his last visit to Islamabad he discussed all aspects of bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.

“I am also grateful to the government of Pakistan and the National Assembly of Pakistan for the steps they have taken with regards to facilitation of visa and trade and transit. But we need to continue to work together and I wouldn’t say that now there is no mistrust but both sides need to work more..,” Dr Abdullah said.

Pakistan, he said, is an important player in the Afghan peace process and its support is crucial for the peaceful settlement in the war-stricken country.

The chairman HCNR said that Afghan people have suffered a lot due to the unrest in the country over the last 42 years and "now there is no option other than peace for Afghanistan".

He assured Pakistan that the Afghan government had done its best to ensure peace in the country and vowed to continue its efforts to end decades-old conflict.

“I am not disappointed but I see the need for urgency, and that’s what the people of Afghanistan and the world community expect from us but both sides need to realise that that there is no military solution.”

When asked about his expectations from the Moscow Dialogue and Istanbul process, Dr Abdullah said that the start of negotiations after so many years of war is itself good news and an important opportunity.

“With the pace of the progress, neither I nor the people of Afghanistan are satisfied. We should have utilised the time available for us in better way for us the Doha process will continue and the negotiating team will have its role but recently there was an idea that if we move it to the next level in order for the process to be re-energised by the top leaders of the country and an inclusive team in a different venue, that does not mean that peace process will stop. We need support of all of the countries and also in every way and means to try to help it.”

On Pak-Afghan relations, the Afghan leader said the relations between the countries should be strengthened further. “I can only see opportunities for all countries around Afghanistan and beyond. Potentials are enormous for both countries and both nations.”

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1614086/pentagon-chief-praises-pakistans-role-in-afghan-peace-process

US Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin on Monday praised Pakistan’s cooperation for peace in Afghanistan.

Austin, in telephone conversation with Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, according to a readout of the conversation issued by Pentagon, “expressed gratitude for Islamabad’s continued support for the Afghan peace process”.

The defence secretary called Gen Bajwa while returning from Afghanistan, where he paid an unannounced visit on Sunday to understand the situation in the war-torn country.

The Biden administration is currently undertaking a review of the deal signed by its predecessor with the Taliban in February last year under which US troops are to withdraw from Afghanistan by May 1. The review process would lead to the decision by the new administration on whether or not to adhere to the agreed timeline for troop pullout.

Austin, while speaking at a press conference in Afghanistan before his departure, said his engagements in Kabul would inform his “participation in the review we are undergoing here with the president. It’s very helpful.”

Pakistan has been closely engaged with US in the Afghan peace process and facilitated the signing of the US-Taliban agreement and later the commencement of the intra-Afghan talks, which currently appear stalled because of the review process going on in Washington.

Gen Bajwa had at a security conference in Islamabad last week said: “Our robust role in current quest for peace in Afghanistan is a proof of our goodwill and understanding of our global and moral obligations.”

Islamabad, meanwhile, wants both parties — US and Taliban — to progress on the implementation of their Feb 2020 deal and build further on it so that a peaceful political settlement could be achieved.

Afghanistan is one area where the Biden administration is still seeking Pakistan’s cooperation, although the erstwhile ally has lost salience for Washington in its broader strategic calculations.

The defence secretary had in his confirmation hearing told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that he saw Pakistan as an “essential partner” in Afghan peace process and that building “relationships with Pakistan’s military would provide openings for the United States and Pakistan to cooperate on key issues”.

Austin, meanwhile, in his conversation with the army chief reassured him that the US would like to continue its cooperation with Pakistan in areas of “common interest”.

According to the readout: “Secretary Austin reinforced the United States’ commitment to maintaining a strong bilateral defence relationship with Pakistan and expressed gratitude for Islamabad’s continued support for the Afghan peace process.”

In another statement, the Pentagon noted that “Secretary Austin came away from his meetings in New Delhi encouraged by the response from “an increasingly important partner amid today’s rapidly shifting international dynamics”.

At a news conference in Kabul, Austin, who is a former head of the US Central Command that also looks after the US war in Afghanistan, insisted on the need to bring the Afghan war to “a responsible end”.

He refused to give a final deadline for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

Secretary Austin, however, ignored a Taliban warning that US troops in Afghanistan would face the consequences of Washington’s refusal to meet the May 1 deadline. But he did say that he believed the US commanders had the capability to repel attacks on their troops and had the right to defence themselves.

Pakistan’s envoy in Washington, meanwhile, said that Islamabad wanted a stand-alone relationship with the United States, although it’s willing to continue playing a positive role in the Afghan peace process.

“We really want to have a stand-alone relationship which should not be seen through the prism of any other country,” Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan said at a recent seminar in Washington. “We would like to have a realistic and mutually beneficial partnership.”

The Biden administration has retained Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad as its special envoy for Afghanistan who completed his first trip to the region this week as an emissary of the new US government, visiting Doha, Kabul and Islamabad.

“The ongoing Afghan peace process is our best bet in achieving an inclusive end-state in Afghanistan,” said Ambassador Khan. “Instead of starting from where it all began, it is critical to put all our energies behind making the intra-Afghan negotiations successful.”

He said there were two pillars to the peace process: “the US-Taliban agreement, and the intra-Afghan negotiations” and both were necessary for its success.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2291177/pakistan-lauds-revival-of-afghan-peace-process-but-warns-against-spoilers

Pakistan has welcomed the recent efforts to re-energize the process aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan but warned against spoiler attempts to subvert the peace negotiations and prevent a political settlement in the strife-torn country.

In a statement submitted to the UN Security Council, Ambassador Munir Akram called on all sides to work towards the reduction of violence leading to a ceasefire, a natural expectation from the peace process.

The Pakistani envoy’s statement followed a briefing, via video-link from Kabul, by Deborah Lyons, the Special Representative for Afghanistan, about the situation in that country during which she sounded alarm about soaring rates of violence that continue to hamper humanitarian efforts and erode public confidence more broadly.

“Continuation of violence will strengthen the hands of ‘spoilers’, both within and outside Afghanistan, to subvert the peace negotiations and prevent a comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan,” Ambassador Akram said in his remarks.

“We must guard against those who desire to frustrate a peaceful settlement on the pretext of safeguarding democracy and human rights and to continue to use Afghan territory against its neighbours.”

“Terrorism has had a devastating impact on Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries,” the Pakistan envoy said.

Pakistan, he said, shares the international community’s determination not to allow Afghan soil to be used by Al-Qaeda, ISIL/Da’esh or other groups to threaten or attack any country. “Some who have waxed eloquent about terrorism today are the very ones who wish to continue to foment terrorism from Afghanistan’s ungoverned spaces to conduct their war of terrorism against my country,” Ambassador Akram said.

He regretted that the Security Council has been prevented from considering the evidence of their sponsorship of terrorism.

He hoped that despite multiple challenges, and possible periodic setbacks, all Afghan parties will persevere in the pursuit of a political settlement.

Efforts must be made to ensure that such efforts complement, not subvert, the peace process, the Pakistani envoy said, adding, “Bringing in ‘spoilers’ to the table will affect the prospects of an early settlement.

Pakistan, he said, facilitated the commencement and the conclusion of last year’s US-Taliban Peace Agreement and the subsequent Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

In this regard, Ambassador Akram said Pakistan will support the consensus between Afghan leaders and the Taliban on any inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan.

“It is the Afghans who must be the masters of their destiny and decide their own future, without outside influence or interference,” he added.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1615584/fm-meets-ghani-voices-concern-over-violence-in-afghanistan

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Dushanbe on Tuesday and discussed matters of bilateral interest, including the Afghan peace process.

Foreign Minister Qureshi, in the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the Ninth Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process Conference in the Tajik capital, expressed Pakistan’s desire for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Mr Qureshi said Pakistan considered peace in Afghanistan vital for sustainable stability in the region.

He expressed concern over the rising incidents of violence in Afghanistan and said that Pakistan’s position remained the same that the Afghan problem could not be solved through military option.

The foreign minister said Pakistan supported a political solution to the Afghan problem through comprehensive dialogue, adding that positive developments as a result of intra-Afghan talks could help bring Afghan peace process to a logical conclusion.

He said Pakistan was a partner for peace in Afghanistan and towards that end, Pakistan was constructively engaged with the international community to reinforce the efforts for peace.

The foreign minister further underlined that Intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha achieved progress which should lay the foundation to take the process forward.

He expressed the hope that as the peace efforts moved forward, the Afghans would make important decisions for reaching the negotiated political settlement.

Highlighting the importance of the regional connectivity, the foreign minister said that durable process in Afghanistan would enhance opportunities for working together on infrastructure and energy connectivity between Central Asia and West Asia through Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also held a separate meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar to discuss bilateral relations and the Afghan peace process.

Mr Qureshi arrived in Dushanbe on Monday where he participated in the Conference and highlighted Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace and the future strategy to contribute to sustainable stability of Afghanistan.

Also on Tuesday, Pakistan and Iran agreed on the need for expeditious finalisation of arrangement to facilitate legal trade and improve livelihood in border region, in light of Prime Minister Imran Khans initiative of joint border markets.

The matter was discussed in a meeting between Foreign Minister Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart Dr Javad Zarif, on the sidelines of the Ninth Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process Conference in Dushanbe, a Foreign Office press release said.

During the meeting, the two foreign ministers reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional issues, particularly the Afghan peace process.

Mr Qureshi emphasised the importance of enhanced bilateral economic cooperation.

The two foreign ministers also reviewed progress on the opening of a new border crossing point.

Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed the hope that the Afghan parties would seize the historic opportunity to work out an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political settlement.

He underlined the need to consolidate progress achieved in Doha process and take the process forward. Expressing concern on high level of violence, he underscored the importance of reduction in violence leading to ceasefire.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2294930/troop-pullout-should-coincide-with-progress-in-afghan-peace-process-fo

Pakistan on Thursday called for progress in the peace process before all foreign forces leave Afghanistan in a first formal reaction to President Joe Biden's announcement to end the longest foreign war in American history.

While the Biden administration said troops withdrawal cannot be conditioned based any more, Islamabad believes that drawdown has to be accompanied by progress in the peace process.

This means that Pakistan in so many words want the foreign forces to stay on till some tangible progress is made in the peace efforts.

"In our view, it is important that the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan coincides with the progress in the peace process," said a foreign office in a formal reaction to the Biden's decision to complete the troop withdrawal by September 11. "We hope that the forthcoming meeting of Afghan leadership in Turkey would be an important opportunity for Afghans to make progress towards a negotiated political settlement," the statement said.

"In this regard, we support the principle of responsible troop withdrawal in coordination with Afghan stakeholders. We also hope the U.S. will continue to urge the Afghan leaders to seize this historic opportunity for achieving a political settlement in Afghanistan," the statement added.

It said Pakistan had been consistently supporting and facilitating the efforts for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"We believe there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and a negotiated political solution through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process is important for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan."

Towards this end, the U.S.-Taliban Agreement of 29 February 2020 laid the foundation for a comprehensive intra-Afghan peace agreement including a permanent ceasefire for bringing an end to violence in Afghanistan, the statement said.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan had consistently reiterated that peace and stability in Afghanistan is in our interest.

"Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment for a peaceful, stable, united, democratic, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan."

The spokesperson said a meaningful engagement of the international community for promoting reconstruction and economic development in post-conflict Afghanistan was important for ensuring sustainable peace and stability.

"Pakistan believes that another key feature in the efforts for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan should be a time-bound and well-resourced plan for the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland and their reintegration in Afghanistan."

Pakistan will continue to work together with the international community in the efforts for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, according to the statement.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2295613/fm-qureshi-urges-taliban-to-stay-engaged-in-peace-process

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged the Taliban on Monday to remain engaged in the Afghan peace process after the group said it would now shun summits about Afghanistan until all foreign forces had leave the country.

The decision was taken after the United States said last week it would withdraw all troops by Sept 11 this year, later than a May 1 deadline set out by the previous Donald Trump administration last year after the two sides clinched a deal in Doha, Qatar.

“They take their own decisions but we will do whatever we can to convince them that it is in their national interest to remain engaged,” Qureshi, who is on a trip to the United Arab Emirates, said of the Taliban in an interview with Reuters in Abu Dhabi.

The Taliban refusal has thrown the peace process into disarray with Turkey scheduled to host a summit this Saturday, which diplomats had hoped would create new momentum towards a political settlement between the Taliban and Afghan government. Qureshi said delays to the withdrawal were always a possibility due to logistics but that the Taliban had largely succeeded in their objective for foreign troops to withdraw and so should show flexibility towards the new Sept 11 deadline.

“The troops will be out and a date has been given and the process starts on the 1st of May and goes on until the 11th of September so there is a definite time frame,” he said, adding that he believed the Taliban would benefit by remaining engaged in the process if they show patience and perseverance.

The foreign minister said that he had no contact with the Taliban. He expressed the fear that violence could escalate if the peace process remains deadlocked, plunging Afghanistan into civil war and leading to an exodus of Afghans.

Commenting on the Pakistan-India relations, Qureshi said that Islamabad was ready to engage in direct dialogue with New Delhi once Jammu and Kashmir statehood was restored, which New Delhi in 2019 split into territories.

“We are two atomic powers that cannot, should not go into a direct conflict. It would be suicidal,” Qureshi said. But he said he had no plans to meet with his Indian counterpart, who is also in the UAE this week. Meanwhile, Qureshi meets UAE of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan and discussed with him the prospects of enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of investment, tourism and related infrastructure, the Foreign Office said in a statement in Islamabad.

Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak, who is also the commissioner general for Expo-2020, Dubai, has played a key role in the well-being of Pakistani community in the UAE. He is also a major investor in the banking and telecommunications sectors in Pakistan.

The two ministers also exchanged views on the importance of tolerance and coexistence in presenting the true image of Islam and the Islamic society. Qureshi briefed Sheikh Nahyan about the issues faced by the Pakistani community, in particular the restrictions on visa-related matters.

The two minister exchanged views in detail on the Expo-2020, Dubai being held in October this year. Lauding the one-of-its-kind mega event in the region, Qureshi thanked the UAE’s support in setting up the Pakistan Pavilion in the Expo.

Qureshi discussed ideas regarding optimal utilisation of the Pakistan pavilion with a view to successfully showcasing Pakistan’s ‘Hidden Treasure’ – the theme of Pakistan’s pavilion. The foreign minister requested Sheikh Nahyan to grace the event, which was warmly accepted.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2295988/pakistan-to-continue-afghan-peace-efforts

Pakistan on Thursday said it would continue to work towards achieving a lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, adding the parties to the conflict would not miss the opportunity to work out an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

“Pakistan has been consistently supporting and facilitating the efforts for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said while responding to media queries on the postponement of the Afghan peace process conference due to be held in Turkey.

Turkey had announced on Tuesday that an international peace conference on Afghanistan scheduled for April 24 in Istanbul has been postponed until mid-May.

“We have always maintained that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan,” added the spokesperson.

The postponement comes after the US administration of President Joe Biden last week announced the withdrawal of all American forces from Afghanistan before this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Turkey had first announced the conference, co-sponsored by the United Nations and Qatar, to run from April 24 to May 4.

Ankara said the talks would be between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban.

The spokesperson said Pakistan “attaches great value to Turkey’s efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan”.

“We believe that the meeting of Afghan leadership in Turkey, on the new dates once finalised, would be an important opportunity for the Afghans to make progress towards a negotiated political settlement.”

Last week, the Taliban when contacted said the group had still not completed internal consultations over whether to attend the conference.

“We hope that the Afghan parties will not miss the opportunity to work out an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Pakistan would continue to work with the international community in the efforts aimed at seeking a lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. The US is trying to add urgency to long-stalled peace talks ahead of its planned end to military involvement in Afghanistan which began in response to the 2001 terror attacks on Washington and New York.

Biden has pledged to remove the last American troops from Afghanistan -- a force currently made up of around 2,500 personnel -- within six months.

A leaked US State Department report said Washington wanted the Turkey conference to approve a plan to replace the present leadership of President Ashraf Ghani with an interim government involving the Taliban.

Before the postponement was announced, State Department spokesman Ned Price said "there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, and only through a political settlement, and a comprehensive ceasefire, will we be able to support a resolution that brings security, stability, and prosperity to the people of Afghanistan".

 

[ChTab]

Qureshi to discuss Afghan peace in Istanbul meeting

ISLAMABAD/ ANKARA:
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will visit Turkey on Friday where he will be joined by his Afghan and Turkish counterparts in a trilateral meeting on the peace process in Afghanistan, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

The foreign ministers will hold talks in Istanbul on Friday, Turkey said, after a wider Afghan peace conference was postponed because the Taliban said they would not participate.

The planned peace talks in Turkey were scheduled for April 24 to fast-track an agreement between the Taliban and Afghan government in light of the announcement by Washington that foreign troops would leave Afghanistan by Sep 11.

No new date has been set for those talks. Turkey's foreign ministry said Friday's three-way meeting would cover "recent developments regarding the Afghan peace process, cooperation in the fields of security, energy, connectivity and irregular migration".

The Foreign Office, in a statement, said that in the trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Afghanistan, Qureshi will discuss the latest developments in the Afghan peace process.

“He will exchange views on achieving the shared objectives of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process and highlight Pakistan's valuable efforts towards this end.”

The Foreign Office said Qureshi’s two-day official visit came on the invitation of Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlüt Çavusoglu, the statement added.

During the visit, the foreign minister will review the entire spectrum of relations and discuss preparations for the 7th Session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which will be held in Turkey this year, with his Turkish counterpart.

In addition, the two sides will also discuss the regional security situation.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2296191/qureshi-to-discuss-afghan-peace-in-istanbul-meeting

 

[ChTab]

Gen Qamar discusses Afghan peace with Ghani, Abdullah in day-long visit

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday said that Pakistan will always support "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" peace process based on mutual consensus of all stakeholders, according to a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

He expressed these views during a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during his day-long official visit to Kabul, according to the military’s media wing. Chief of the Defence Staff UK General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter was also present in the meeting, it added.

“Matters of mutual interest, current developments in Afghan peace process, enhanced bilateral security and defence cooperation and need for effective border management between the two brotherly countries were discussed.”

The COAS reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan means a peaceful region in general and a peaceful Pakistan in particular. "We will always support 'Afghan-led, Afghan-owned' peace process based on mutual consensus of all stakeholders," the army chief added.

President Ghani thanked the army chief for a meaningful discussion and appreciated Pakistan's sincere and positive role in the Afghan peace process.

Later, General Qamar also called on Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Dr Abdullah Abdullah and discussed matters related to the peace process.

Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid accompanied the COAS during the visit.

Violence has risen starkly in Afghanistan in recent weeks with the Taliban launching attacks throughout the country and a huge unclaimed attack taking place on a school in Kabul on Saturday that killed dozens of students.

Washington and other Western powers, in recent years, have acknowledged Pakistan's efforts to push the militant group to take part in peace talks.

Taliban and diplomatic sources told Reuters that Pakistan has been negotiating in recent weeks with insurgents to try and get them to commit to a ceasefire, agree to an extension of the US-Taliban agreement which stipulated forces should withdraw by May, and to continue to take part in peace talks at a planned conference in Turkey.

The Taliban announced on Sunday night that they would commit to a three-day ceasefire for Eidul Fitr later this week.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/229923...n-peace-with-ghani-abdullah-in-day-long-visit

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: General Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured the Afghan leadership of Pakistan’s support for “inclusive power-sharing arrangement” and “elections as a right of Afghans to self-determination”, officials said on Monday after the army chief’s daylong visit to Kabul.

Gen Qamar was also accompanied by UK Chief of Defence Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter and Director General of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed.

The visit came just days after US and other international forces started withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Since the beginning of the drawdown, which is set to complete by September 11, there has been a sudden spike in violence in Afghanistan.

With Afghan Taliban reluctant to join the peace process, the increased violence has threatened further instability in Afghanistan, something that may have a spillover impact on its neighbours, including Pakistan. Against this backdrop, the visit of army chief is seen as crucial.

The presence of UK’s chief of defence in talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani suggested that Britain was playing some kind of a guarantor between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In March, the army chief had held talks with the Afghan civil and military authorities in Bahrain. That meeting was also attended by the UK’s chief of defence.

In the meeting with President Ghani, the army chief reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan means a peaceful region in general and a peaceful Pakistan in particular. “We will always support Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process based on mutual consensus of all stakeholders,” the military’s media wing said in a statement.

The Afghan president thanked the army chief for a “meaningful discussion and appreciated Pakistan’s sincere and positive role in the Afghan peace process”

The army chief also met Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan and discussed matters related to Afghan peace process.

“Gen Bajwa assured that Pakistan supports an inclusive power-sharing arrangement & elections as a right of Afghans to self-determination,” Abdullah said in a series of tweets while welcoming the army chief.

The discussion, he said, focused on the current state of the Afghan peace process and on ways to build and accelerate momentum toward reduction in violence leading to a permanent ceasefire and continued inter-Afghan talks.

The Afghan Taliban have announced a three-day ceasefire on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, a move welcomed by Pakistan, but Afghan government insists truce should be permanent.

The Afghan High Peace Council chief acknowledged that there was no military solution to the Afghan crises.

“We stressed on the restart of meaningful talks between the Afghan government and Taliban by aiming for an inclusive and comprehensive political settlement.” Abdullah said.

“I pointed out that the Taliban have yet to fully use this unique opportunity for talks and peace. Any attempt to use force will worsen the stalemate and shore up public opposition,” Abdullah added.

He appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role and urged all sides to aim for “what is possible as we take steps toward a durable, just and acceptable political settlement”.

The official said that Pakistan is making all-out efforts to convince the Taliban to join the international conference to be held in Turkey on the Afghan endgame.

The conference, also involving regional countries as well as Afghan government, has been postponed twice after the Taliban refused to be part of it. The Taliban are reluctant to attend the conference after US President Joe Biden extended the troops withdrawal deadline.

The US forces were supposed to leave Afghanistan by May 1 as part of the agreement signed in Doha in February 2020. However, after coming to power, President Biden reviewed the deal and extended the deadline.

The Istanbul Conference is now being rescheduled after Eid with Pakistan and other players trying to persuade the Taliban to attend the talks.

Pakistan is pushing for a political settlement as it fears that renewed civil war will threatened its security.

Meeting with UK CDS

Separately, Gen Bajwa discussed the current developments in Afghan peace process and measures taken to further enhance bilateral and defence cooperation with Gen Sir Nicholas during a meeting on Monday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a separate statement.

Sir Nicholas appreciated Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace and stability in the region, especially the Afghan peace process, the military’s media wing said.

The army chief thanked Sir Nicholas for UK’s contribution towards the fight against Covid-19 in Pakistan.

“Pakistan Army greatly values its friendly relations with the UK,” the ISPR’s statement said quoting the army chief. Gen Bajwa also offered condolences on the sad demise of Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip and said that the world had

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/the-mediator-britain-s-military-chief-hosts-taliban-talks-with-pakistan-and-afghanistan-1.1222502

Britain's military chief is involved in an initiative in which Pakistan's intelligence is attempting to dissuade the Taliban from launching attacks on international forces as they leave Afghanistan.

The head of the British military Gen Sir Nick Carter travelled to Kabul in recent days for a meeting that brought together the Afghan president and head of Pakistan's military to discuss the Taliban and withdrawal of troops.

Gen Carter’s visit was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence, which on Thursday said he was there as part of the “peace process”.

Britain has 750 troops in the 7,000 Nato contingent alongside 2,500 Americans who will all withdraw by September 11 after 20 years fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

But security officials disclosed that Pakistan Inter Service Intelligence, which has often been accused of backing the Taliban, told the extremists to let foreign troops leave in peace to ensure their departure.

“The ISI is trying to persuade the Taliban not to launch attacks against international forces from now until September 11,” a security source told The National. “Pakistan is trying to moderate the Taliban so the international forces aren’t forced to stay if the security situation deteriorates. The ISI want to continue its influence over Afghanistan once the British and Americans have left.”

If the Taliban launches successful attacks on foreign troops over the next five months, it could subsequently claim a significant victory in forcing the US and its allies to withdraw. Pakistan ISI’s apparent intervention came after Taliban commanders threatened attacks on foreign troops when the new US administration ignored the deadline of May 1 set for withdrawal by former president Donald Trump.

“There was anger in their ranks that the Americans had broken the agreement and the Taliban wanted to launch a new offensive,” the source said.

However, it is also understood that no request has been made for the Taliban to curb attacks on local Afghan forces or civilians. In a horrific bombing attack on Saturday, 85 people, mostly schoolgirls, were killed in Kabul, although this was claimed by the Afghan branch of ISIS.

Taliban fighters have also overwhelmed several Afghan government positions and earlier this week seized a district in Wardak province, about 25 miles west of Kabul.

The deteriorating security situation has led the Afghans to call on Pakistan for assistance, despite a fractured relationship with the country.

Gen Carter apparently facilitated the meeting between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Pakistan’s highly influential military chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and ISI chief Gen Faiz Hameed.

The British government did not disclose that Gen Carter had been in Afghanistan until confirming it with The National on Thursday.

The officer is seen as a key moderator having nurtured longstanding relationships during his time as Nato’s deputy commander in Afghanistan with Mr Ghani. He is on good terms with Gen Bajwa, whom he has hosted in London at the Ministry of Defence HQ, as well as at social events, including an international cricket match at Lord’s.

A senior Afghan official said the British general had played an “important part” in getting the Afghans and Pakistanis together, which had been difficult given the recent history between the countries. He said it was important Gen Carter continued his “constructive role”.

Mr Ghani’s office said the meeting on Monday involved “Pakistan’s role in the peace process and stopping violence in Afghanistan”.

The British government said Gen Carter was invited by Mr Ghani and had “participated in a bilateral meeting” with Gen Bajwa and the president “which included discussions on the Afghan peace process”.

“Sir Nick Carter reaffirmed the UK’s continued commitment to work with both Afghanistan and Pakistan as partners in the fight against terrorism in the region,” the official said.

While the Nato withdrawal is unlikely to be as precipitate as the Russian exit in 1989, there are concerns that with the absence of western troops the Taliban will wait until it is strong enough to seize Kabul. That last happened in 1996, four years after Russia cut financial aid to the Afghan government, which was subsequently unable to pay its security forces.

Months before British troops left Iraq in 2009, senior military and intelligence officials negotiated an “accommodation” with local Shiite militias to end the fighting before their withdrawal.

 

[PakLFC]

Good to know that Pak has refused to hand America any more military bases after they supposedly leave. Just hope IK does not do another u-turn here he is so famous for.

 

[MenInG]

The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday conveyed its serious concerns to Afghanistan regarding recent "irresponsible statements and baseless allegations" made by the Afghan leadership against Pakistan with regards to its relationship with the Afghan Taliban.

In a statement, FO spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that Pakistan had conveyed its concerns by making a strong demarche with the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad.

"Pakistan has emphasised that groundless accusations erode trust and vitiate the environment between the two brotherly countries and disregard the constructive role being played by Pakistan in facilitating the Afghan peace process.

"The Afghan side has been urged to effectively utilise available forums, like the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity, to address all bilateral issues," the FO spokesperson said.

The FO statement comes days after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani — in an interview with a German publication — claimed that Pakistan "operated an organised system of support" for the Taliban, adding that the Taliban "receive logistics there, their finances are there and recruitment is there".

"The names of the various decision-making bodies of the Taliban are Quetta Shura, Miramshah Shura and Peshawar Shura — named after the Pakistani cities where they are located. There is a deep relationship with the state," Ghani told German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel.

Asked whether he still believed in a peace process, Ghani said: "Peace will primarily be decided upon regionally, and I believe we are at a crucial moment of rethinking. It is first and foremost a matter of getting Pakistan on board. The US now plays only a minor role. The question of peace or hostility is now in Pakistani hands."

He said that Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa had assured him that the restoration of the Emirate or dictatorship by the Taliban was not in anybody’s interest in the region, especially Pakistan.

"However, he said, some of the lower levels in the army still hold the opposite opinion in certain cases. It is primarily a question of political will," Ghani said.

Asked what the Europeans could contribute to the peace process, the Afghan president said: "They can do a lot. After all, Pakistan is a state; this state has to make an important decision now. Clear messages and incentives from Germany will help — and, conversely, they should introduce sanctions if the decision goes in a different direction than hoped. As Europeans, you should not see yourself as observers; you are a direct part of these events."

Regarding a future security arrangement between Afghanistan and Pakistan as the key to peace, he said: "Most certainly an important key. But my goal is the neutrality of Afghanistan. We don't want a new protecting power, and we don't want to be part of regional or international rivalries."

https://www.dawn.com/news/1624134/f...irresponsible-statements-baseless-allegations

 

[MenInG]

A soldier was martyred after terrorists opened fire from the Afghanistan border near North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Saturday.

The military's media wing said the Pakistani troops responded to the firing — on a military post — in a befitting manner, but Sepoy Umar Daraz, 32, resident of Jhang, received a bullet injury and embraced martyrdom.

"Pakistan has consistently asked Afghanistan to ensure effective management and control on their side of the Pak-Afghan Border," ISPR said.

Pakistan strongly condemns terrorists' continuous use of Afghan soil for activities against Pakistan, the military's media wing added.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

The Foreign Office (FO) has denied the presence of any US military or air base in Pakistan, stating that any speculation is "baseless and irresponsible" and should be avoided.

In a statement issued late Monday night, FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri said: "There is no US military or air base in Pakistan, nor was any such proposal envisaged. Any speculation on this account is baseless and irresponsible and should be avoided."

The spokesperson added that Pakistan and the US have a framework of cooperation in terms of Air Lines of Communication (ALOC) and Ground Lines of Communication (GLOC) in place since 2001.

"No new agreement has been made in this regard," he said.

Pakistan to continue giving air, ground access, says Pentagon
The FO statement comes after a Pentagon official said that Pakistan had allowed the US military to use its airspace and given ground access so that it can support its presence in Afghanistan.

David F. Helvey, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Affairs, told the US Senate Armed Services Committee last week that the United States would continue its conversation with Pakistan because it had a critical role in restoring peace to Afghanistan.

The official was replying to a question from Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, who asked him to “outline your assessment of Pakistan, and particularly of Pakistani intelligence agencies, and the role you expect them to play in our future”.

“Pakistan has played an important role in Afghanistan. They supported the Afghan peace process. Pakistan also has allowed us to have overflight and access to be able to support our military presence in Afghanistan,” Mr Helvey said.

“We will continue our conversations with Pakistan because their support and contribution to the future of Afghanistan, to future peace in Afghanistan, is going to be critical,” he added.

Diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn that Pakistan had always allowed overflights and ground access to the US to facilitate its military presence in Afghanistan and would continue to do so.

Earlier in the hearing, Senator Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, asked the Pentagon official what type of manned or unmanned capabilities the US would need in the region to prevent “terrorists from returning to Afghanistan”.

“Things we cannot have in Afghanistan,” such as overflights, Mr Helvey. He said that there were other assets that were not available in the region and the US has the capability to bring them into the region “on a regular basis”.

Senator Manchin reminded him that with really no assets on the ground, Washington will have to rely on its regional partners to work with the US. “Are you confident of our regional partners and their capacity and commitment to drive terrorists out of the region?” he asked.

“We will have to work with our local and regional partners, and we want to continue developing those capabilities and those partnerships to be able to ensure that we have the right of framework to address the threats.”

The US Defence Department, he said, was “working today” with its inter-agency colleagues on the right type of arrangements, relationships and frameworks to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a haven for terrorism.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and the United States have set the stage for a fresh impetus of their bilateral ties with pledges of greater engagement and economic cooperation.

The icebreaker between Islamabad and Washington took place on Sunday in Geneva where national security advisers Jake Sullivan of the US and Moeed Yusuf of Pakistan met and, according to a statement jointly issued by them, “agreed to advance practical cooperation”.

This was the first highest-level physical contact between the two countries since the Biden administration took office.

Bilateral relations, according to a diplomatic source, were a major point on the agenda of the NSAs’ Geneva meeting, but other issues like India, Afghanistan and economic cooperation which keep affecting the ties too were discussed at length.

Moeed Yusuf complained about lesser engagement with Pakistan by the new administration in its early days. His American counterpart claimed that it happened so because of the Covid-19 pandemic and a greater focus on internal issues. He promised more and sustained engagement.

The discussion was described by both sides as “positive”.

Moeed Yusuf said in a tweet: “Pleased to meet US NSA@JakeSullivan46, yesterday. Pakistan and US delegations held positive discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. Both sides agreed to continue the conversation to advance cooperation in Pak-US bilateral relations.”

According to an insider, more exchanges between the two sides are expected in near future.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

The Army leadership on Tuesday expressed hope that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan as the top brass noted the increase in cross-border attacks against Pakistani forces and the regrouping of terrorist outfits across the Pak-Afghan border.

Reaffirming Pakistan's support for regional peace and stability, the attendees of the 241st Corps Commanders Conference reiterated that the country has taken effective border control and management measures and the same is expected from Afghanistan to "deny any space to spoilers of peace".

During his May 11 visit to Kabul, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had assured the Afghan leadership of Pakistan’s support for “inclusive power-sharing arrangement” and “elections as a right of Afghans to self-determination”.

The visit came just days after US and other international forces started withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Since the beginning of the drawdown, which is set to complete by September 11, there has been a sudden spike in violence in Afghanistan and an increase in cross border attacks on Pakistani forces.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also stated that the forum took a comprehensive review of global, regional and domestic security environment, with the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary also coming under discussion. The army chief "expressed satisfaction over Army’s operational readiness in view of the emerging security threats".

The Army high command also reviewed the situation in the recently merged districts of KP and Balochistan, added the ISPR.

The forum stressed upon fast-paced socio-economic development of these areas to capitalise on the hard-earned peace and to bring stability after the country's security forces cleared the areas of militants during successive military operations over the years.

In regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gen Bajwa appreciated the "all-out support" from military formations to the civil administration amidst the ongoing third wave of the pandemic which contributed to a significant reduction in the spread of the disease.

The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan had earlier sanctioned the deployment of Army personnel in order to aid the civil administration in enforcing SOPs in the towns and cities of the country.

In the earlier meeting with President Ghani, the army chief reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan means a peaceful region in general and a peaceful Pakistan in particular. “We will always support Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process based on mutual consensus of all stakeholders.”

Anti-Pakistan elements continue to use the Afghan soil for carrying out terrorist activities inside Pakistan. Islamabad is building the fence along its 2,640km long border with Afghanistan so as to check the smuggling of goods and weapons and deny the cross-border movement of terrorists and other criminals.

The work on the border barrier has continued uninterrupted over the past four years despite the threat of deadly attacks and Islamabad has repeatedly asked Kabul to rein in the organised terrorist groups operating from its soil.

 

[Bewal Express]

IA we don't miss the chance to bring peace to our Neighbour. Just as the death of the defenceless Palestinians shook and hurt us, so should this horric war that has lasted decades. We cannot stand by and let poor Afghans die in their 1000s and say or do nothing. Realpolitik always takes precedence over the lives of poor people and its time to call a spade and stop the massacre of poor Afghans. IA we use our leverage to bring the warring parties to the table.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Wars lasting decades and decades have destroyed Afghanistan's progress.

From this point on, as soon as Americans/NATO leave Afghanistan, there should be fair elections and only Afghans have the right to decide their future.

All exterior parties must stay the hell away and let Afghans choose their way forward.

If there is ever a peaceful time in Afghanistan, I'd be more than happy to visit this beautiful country and spend my hard earned money there!

But I'm afraid there will be further violence...

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that Pakistan is pushing for a political settlement in Afghanistan before foreign troops leave later this year, to reduce the risk of civil war in its western neighbour.

The United States has said it will withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan on September 11 after a two-decade presence.

More than 20 allied countries plan to follow suit.

"There is a lot of fear right now in Pakistan and I assure you that we are trying our level best that there is some sort of political settlement before the Americans leave," PM Imran told Reuters at his official residence in Islamabad.

Read more: Taliban warn Afghanistan’s neighbours against hosting US military bases

Violence in Afghanistan has risen sharply since the troop withdrawal announcement, with the insurgent Taliban resisting pressure from Washington and its allies to agree to a political understanding leading to a peace deal.

"Since the moment the Americans gave a date, of when they were going to leave Afghanistan ... the Taliban feel they have won the war," the premier said, adding it was not going to be easy to get concessions from the Taliban after the US decision.


Regional repercussions

PM Imran said Pakistan would suffer the most, after Afghanistan itself, if there was civil war and a refugee crisis. "And then there would be pressure on us to jump in and become a part of it," he added.

He said that his government had changed Pakistan's decades-long policy of pushing for "strategic depth" in Afghanistan to ensure that there was a friendly government there.

"Any Afghan government chosen by the people is who Pakistan should deal with," the premier said, adding that Pakistan "should not try to do any manipulation in Afghanistan".

PM Imran said that a lot depended on US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, with Pakistan's and Afghanistan's help, to carve out a settlement to avoid more bloodshed.

'Rich states haven't done enough for environment'

The premier said that the world's richest countries have not done enough to combat global warming, adding his country had done more than any other in the world to combat rising emissions relative to its economic means.

Pakistan, this year's host of the United Nations' annual World Environment Day on June 5, is among the countries worst affected by climate change, having been regularly hit by devastating floods in recent years, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and destroying swathes of agricultural land.

"Has the developed world done enough: The answer is no," PM added. "Emissions are from the rich countries. And I think they know they haven’t done enough."

This year's World Environment Day will serve as the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, calling for urgent action to revive damaged ecosystems.

Under PM Imran, Pakistan has undertaken a number of restoration projects, including a 10 billion tree-planting drive. This week the premier planted the billionth tree in that drive.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report released on Friday that over the last five years Pakistan had experienced an environmental turnaround after years of decline in its natural capital, but added more needed to be done.

The premier said developing countries like Pakistan had done "more than enough" to combat global warming and climate change despite having limited budgets and an array of problems to deal with such as in education and health.

"To take so much money out as we did – proportionate to our GDP and available income – I think Pakistan has done more than any country in the world," he said.

Aside from ecological restoration projects, Pakistan has also recently become active on the global green finance market, looking to access finance for environmentally friendly projects and decrease its reliance on fossil fuels.

Pakistan said the World Bank estimated the country's new plantation projects would be worth $500 million, and that the valuation could go up to $2.5 billion if carbon pricing estimates went up.

Imran Khan said global green financing and the valuation of natural assets provided good incentives to the developing world to protect the environment.

"If you can prove to the people that by protecting your environment you can actually gain something as well, that means you have more buy-in from the people," he said. "Remember: hungry people do not really care for the environment."

'Ready for India talks if given Kashmir roadmap'

PM Imran said that Pakistan is ready to restart talks with arch-rival India if New Delhi provided a roadmap towards restoring the previous status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In 2019, India withdrew IIOJK's autonomy in order to tighten its grip over the territory, sparking outrage in Pakistan, the downgrading of diplomatic ties and a suspension of bilateral trade.

"If there is a roadmap, then, yes, we will talk," the premier said during the interview.

Previously, the prime minister and his government have held that India would have to first reverse its 2019 steps for any normalisation process to begin.

"Even if they give us a roadmap, that these are the steps that we will take to basically undo what they did, which is illegal, against international law and United Nations resolutions... then that is acceptable," the prime minister said.

India's External Affairs Ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

The prime minister said he has always wanted a "civilised" and "open" relationship with India. "It is common sense that if you want to reduce poverty in the subcontinent, the best way is to trade with each other," he said, referring to the example of the European Union.

Pakistan in March deferred a decision to restart trade with India until Delhi reviewed its moves in IIOJK.

He said India had crossed a "red line" by revoking the autonomy of its part of Kashmir. "They have to come back for us to resume dialogue," Imran said, adding, "at the moment there is no response from India".

 

[MenInG]

MULTAN: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib should be ashamed for maligning Pakistan and advised him against using harsh language against Islamabad.

"Listen to me closely," he said, calling out the Afghan official, "Pakistan has played an important role in helping achieve stability in Afghanistan."

The foreign minister's comments came during his address to party workers in Multan, where he spoke on several fronts, including the Afghan peace process and the progress with the Financial Action Task Force.

"Afghanistan's national security advisor should review his statement [against Pakistan]; he is creating obstacles in the road towards peace," the foreign minister said.

Related itemsPakistan responds to 'baseless allegations' made by Afghan leadershipPakistan denounces horrifying attacks that targeted Kabul schoolPakistan neither has US military bases nor envisages such a proposal: FO

Qureshi said the world had acknowledged Pakistan's role for peace in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's FATF progress

The foreign minister said Pakistan had been placed on FATF's grey list in 2018, and alleged that some politicians had made efforts to get the country's name on the watchdog's black list.

"In FATT's last meeting, it was noted that Pakistan had taken concrete steps to curb [money laundering]," the foreign minister said, adding there was no justification to keep Pakistan on the grey list anymore.

The foreign minister hoped that the country would soon move towards the white list if the decision is based on merit.

What did the Afghan NSA say?

Last month, The News, quoting a foreign publication, said highly placed officials had informed it that Pakistan had conveyed to the Afghan leadership it would no longer conduct official business with Mohib due to his recent “abusive outburst” against Islamabad.

In a public speech last month in eastern Nangarhar province, next to the Pakistani border, Mohib not only repeated his allegations against Islamabad but called Pakistan a “brothel house.”

His remarks outraged leaders in Islamabad, who denounced them, saying they “debased all norms of interstate communication.”

A senior Pakistani official privy to the matter told the media outlet on condition of anonymity that Pakistan lodged a strong protest with the Afghan side and conveyed “deep resentment” in the country over Mohib’s “undignified” remarks.

In a video clip from the speech posted on social media, Saleh asserted that “a Western leader” recently telephoned Ghani and told him that Pakistan does not want to work with a “Pashtun leader in Afghanistan.” The vice president did not identify the foreign leader, nor did he name Mohib but the Afghan national security advisor is an ethnic Pashtun.

Mohib, during a press conference last month in Kabul, was asked to respond to reports that Islamabad had ended official dealings with him.

“My team has seen media reports attributed to anonymous individuals. As of now, the government of Afghanistan has not been officially intimated about the issue,” the adviser said.

“The Afghan government will respond to it through relevant diplomatic channels whenever the information is formally conveyed to it,” Mohib added.

Pakistan responds to 'baseless allegations'

On May 17, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) had conveyed serious concerns related to the "irresponsible statements and baseless allegations" that the Afghan leadership made against Pakistan.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, in a statement, had said Pakistan had conveyed its serious concerns to the Afghan side by making a strong demarche with the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad.

Pakistan has emphasised that groundless accusations erode trust and vitiate the environment between the two brotherly countries and disregard the constructive role being played by Pakistan in facilitating the Afghan peace process, the statement had said.

The Afghan side had been urged to effectively utilise the available forums, like the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), to address all bilateral issues.

Ghani claims Pakistan supports Afghan Taliban

The statement came two days after Afghani President Ashraf Ghani, in an interview with German publication Der Spiegel, had claimed that Pakistan supports the Afghan Taliban through an "organised system" comprising logistics, financial assistance, and recruitment facilities.

"The names of the various decision-making bodies of the Taliban are Quetta Shura, Miramshah Shura and Peshawar Shura – named after the Pakistani cities where they are located. There is a deep relationship with the state," Ghani claimed further.

When asked if he still believed in the Afghan peace process, Ghani said: "Peace will primarily be decided upon regionally, and I believe we are at a crucial moment of rethinking. It is first and foremost a matter of getting Pakistan on board. The US now plays only a minor role. The question of peace or hostility is now in Pakistani hands."

Ghani also said that Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has "clearly assured Afghanistan that the restoration of the Emirate or dictatorship by the Taliban is not in anybody’s interest in the region, especially Pakistan".

"However, some of the lower levels in the army still hold the opposite opinion in certain cases. It is primarily a question of political will," he said.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/time-running-out-afghan-peace-process-more-efforts-needed-eu-envoy-2021-06-16/

The European Union's envoy for Afghanistan said on Wednesday time was running out for Afghan peace negotiations and more needed to be done to boost the discussions as international forces withdraw from the war-torn nation.

Afghan government and Taliban negotiators have met in Qatar's capital Doha over the past two weeks to discuss the peace process after a pause when negotiations largely stalled earlier this year.

Talks began in September but the already-slowing negotiations largely broke off in April, when the United States announced it would withdraw its forces by Sept. 11, after a May 1 deadline the Trump administration had agreed with the Taliban.

"Time is getting shorter as we speak," Tomas Niklasson, the EU's acting special envoy for Afghanistan, told Reuters during a visit to Pakistan's capital. "There has been no or very little progress on substance, so from that perspective more has to be done."

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter that on Tuesday groups from both negotiation teams had met to discuss "recalibration of order and sequence of talks sessions."

But Niklasson said that to show true progress, substantive proposals needed to be put on the table on each side's plans for the country and the outcome of the talks, which the Taliban had not yet provided.

"It's quite possible that a proposal from the Taliban might be maximalist, maybe they would just put an Islamic Emirate on the table, which is perfectly fine for negotiations and then you can see where you can make compromises and compromises will have to be made by both sides," he said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group did have a written plan but would not share it publicly or with foreigners and would save it for substantive negotiations.

The envoy held meetings with officials in Islamabad this week and said he was confident that Pakistan saw it in its interests to encourage a negotiated peace settlement in neighbouring Afghanistan, but reiterated Pakistan should use all leverage it to had to encourage the Taliban to deliver a written peace proposal.

Pakistan's ties to the Taliban have been criticised in the past by the West but foreign capitals including Washington have in recent years acknowledged Pakistan for working to bring the insurgents to the negotiating table.

Pakistan's foreign minister has said in recent days that Pakistan was fully supporting the Afghan peace process but did not want to be considered the "scapegoat" and blamed if negotiations fell apart.

"I see so far little progress in terms of (the Taliban) putting a proposal on the table but whether that is because insufficient leverage is there or because the leverage that is there hasn't been used ... fully I don't really know," Niklasson said.

"But I have confidence that Pakistan realises the importance and the urgency of the situation and that it is in its own interest to use the leverage it has."

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2306004/pak-afghan-diplomatic-spat-continues-as-qureshi-meets-abdullah

The diplomatic spat between Pakistani and Afghan national security advisers (NSA) is not subsiding as the latest diatribe by Hamdullah Mohib on Friday prompted Foreign Office to call his statement a deliberate attempt to nullify the peace efforts.

This is the second time Pakistan had to issue a strong rejoinder to the Afghan NSA in recent weeks and comes at a time when Afghan peace process hangs in balance.

The latest war of words was triggered by Mohib’s tweet, accusing Pakistan of interfering in the internal matters of Afghanistan while referring to the recent interview of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to an Afghan television.

Qureshi in his interview said Afghan Taliban alone could not be held responsible for the violence in Afghanistan as he pointed fingers to other players including ‘spoilers’ who did not wish peace to return to the war-torn country.

The Afghan NSA earlier hurled similar allegations against Pakistan, calling Afghan Taliban as Pakistan’s proxy. He even termed Pakistan a “brothel house”. Islamabad lodged a strong protest with the Afghan government and decided to sever all official links with the Afghan NSA.

Officials believe that the Afghan NSA represents elements who do not want peace in Afghanistan.

“We strongly condemn the baseless insinuations by the Afghan National Security Advisor (NSA), Hamdullah Mohib, alleging Pakistan’s involvement in the internal affairs of Afghanistan,” read a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The FO statement said Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process had been widely acknowledged by the international community.

“The repeated impertinent and unwarranted remarks by the Afghan NSA are deeply concerning as they are tantamount to a calculated attempt by his office to disregard and nullify the progress in the peace process so far,” the statement noted.

“We would also like to remind the Afghan NSA, of mutual understanding reached in Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), obligating both sides to avoid public blame-game and use official channels to discuss complete gamut of bilateral relations. Statements that erode mutual trust should be avoided,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, even as the FO issued a strong rebuttal to the Afghan NSA’s allegations, FM Qureshi met Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Chairman Abdullah Abdullah on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) in Turkey today.

Recalling the successful visit of Abdullah Abdullah in September 2020, the foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s policy of maintaining the broad engagement with Afghan political leadership to forge deeper mutual understanding on the bilateral relations and the Afghan peace process, said the communiqué.

FM Qureshi highlighted Pakistan’s meaningful contribution to facilitate the direct talks between US and Taliban as well as the Afghan parties.

He reiterated that it was now up to the Afghan leaders to seize the historic opportunity afforded by the intra-Afghan negotiations for an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive settlement. He urged the Afghan leaders to expedite progress in intra-Afghan negotiations for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister added that the progress in the Afghan peace process was critical to reduce space for spoilers, who did not wish to see return of peace in the region. He underscored that negative statements and blame game only served to vitiate the environment and strengthen the hand of spoilers who wished to derail the peace process.

 

[OMB]

Pakistan 'strongly condemns' baseless insinuations by Afghan NSA

Pakistan takes exception to repeated and baseless insinuations by Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib.
FO terms his comments counterproductive to Afghan peace process.
FM Qureshi meets Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Chairperson Abdullah Abdullah in Turkey.


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the statement made by Afghanistan National Security Adviser (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib accusing Pakistan of interfering in Afghanistan's internal matter and termed it a deliberate attempt to nullify peace efforts.

This is the second time Pakistan has had to issue a strong rejoinder to the Afghan NSA in recent weeks. The latest war of words was triggered by Mohib’s tweet, accusing Pakistan of interfering in the internal matters of Afghanistan.

On June 5, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had lashed out at Mohib for his comments against Pakistan and called on him to "reflect and correct" his behaviour.

Responding to media queries, the Foreign Office spokesperson strongly condemned the "baseless insinuations" by the Afghan NSA and noted that Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process has been widely acknowledged by the international community.

COAS instructs army to maintain ‘high standards of preparedness’ along LoC, Pak-Afghan border
Peace in Afghanistan a shared responsibility; Pakistan should not be blamed for mistakes: FM Qureshi
“The repeated impertinent and unwarranted remarks by the Afghan NSA are deeply concerning as they are tantamount to a calculated attempt by his office to disregard and nullify the progress in the peace process so far,” the FO spokesperson added.

He said Pakistan would also like to remind the Afghan NSA of a mutual understanding reached in the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), obligating both sides to avoid public blame-game and use official channels to discuss the complete gamut of bilateral relations. "Statements that erode mutual trust should be avoided,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, FM Qureshi met Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Chairperson Abdullah Abdullah on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

FM Qureshi highlighted Pakistan’s meaningful contribution to facilitate direct talks between the US and Taliban as well as the Afghan parties.

He urged the Afghan leaders to expedite progress in intra-Afghan negotiations for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Qureshi added that progress in the Afghan peace process was critical to reduce space for spoilers, who did not wish to see the return of peace in the region.

The foreign minister underscored that negative statements and blame game only served to vitiate the environment and strengthen the hand of the spoilers who wished to derail the peace process.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/355806-pakistan-strongly-condemns-baseless-insinuations-by-afghan-nsa

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1630504/afghanistan-must-stop-making-pakistan-a-scapegoat-for-its-own-failures-fm-qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan was not responsible for Afghanistan's internal problems and was blamed and made out to be a scapegoat by Afghanistan whenever its affairs didn't appear to be moving in the right direction.

In an interview with Afghanistan's Tolo News at his office in Islamabad last week, the foreign minister said the interviewer's question on Taliban presence and freedom of movement in Pakistan was an "exaggeration".

"Unfortunately when things aren't moving in the right direction, you're (Afghanistan) looking for scapegoats and the favourite scapegoat you have is Pakistan. When there's failure within (Afghanistan) you blame Pakistan for that.

"Pakistan is not responsible for the failure within, for the squabbling going on in Afghanistan, if the Afghan leadership can't sit and work out a peace deal," said FM Qureshi.

The foreign minister said that the bulk of the Taliban leadership was not in Pakistan but Afghanistan and the former was only engaging with them to "facilitate the peace process" and try to be "helpful and constructive".

"Many have started recognising that internationally but some in Afghanistan still have that mental blockade of accepting the fact that Pakistan is being genuine, constructive and sincere because Pakistan feels it is in our enlightened interest that there is peace and stability in Afghanistan."

Pressed again on whether the Taliban were funded in Pakistan, the foreign minister responded: "You're stuck in the old groove. Please get out of that groove. If you remain stuck in this then believe me you will not be able to travel far and we want you to travel far."

Qureshi stressed that Pakistan wanted Afghanistan to be peaceful and stable because that would yield mutual dividends and benefits such as regional connectivity, adding that economic security and promotion of regional bilateral trade could only be achieved through peace.

He said there were notions that Pakistan was concentrating on a particular faction but in reality, "we want to engage with and be friends with everyone and be friends with Afghanistan and Afghans."

FM Qureshi said both countries realised there were issues between them and would always remain, hence they had agreed on a "structured and institutionalised mechanism" to sort them out when they arose, referring to the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity. He pointed out that though it was functioning, it could be used more effectively.

He also added that Pakistan would be "happy" to train Afghan security forces but so far, the Afghan leadership hadn't taken the offer seriously. "We honestly feel that we can be of assistance [...] We speak the same language, you know, culturally, we have so many similarities. They will feel at home," said FM Qureshi.

The foreign minister expressed the belief that the Taliban were also ready and willing for peace, due to the cost they had suffered as well in the years of fighting. Qureshi said it would be an "exaggeration" to hold the Taliban solely responsible for the increasing violence in Afghanistan, pointing out that other elements such as Daesh (Islamic State) and internal Afghan factions also played a role.

When questioned if he would be against a Taliban military takeover, the foreign minister categorically said: "We have never said, supported or advocated a takeover of Kabul by force."

He said any decision about the form and structure of government in Afghanistan was a decision for the Afghan people.

When questioned on any continued understanding with the US with regards to Afghanistan after its withdrawal, the foreign minister said Pakistan would be willing to help further the peace process, Afghanistan's rehabilitation and reconstruction and countering terrorism but it would not be providing military bases to the US.

Qureshi was also asked about Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments calling Osama bin Laden a martyr in the National Assembly in June 2020, to which he said the premier's comments had been "quoted out of context" and misconstrued by a particular section of the media.

The foreign minister was also asked about Pakistan's domestic issues, particularly the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and the arrests of some of its leaders to which he responded that anyone could be arrested if they broke the law and that the PTM had representation in the NA.

Similarly, he hailed the media freedom in Pakistan and claimed the press was "completely independent". "We as democrats do not believe in gagging the press because today you cannot hide things under the carpet even if you want to because of social media and the new tools available," Qureshi said.

He also stressed that all of Pakistan's institutions were in "harmony" with the government and on the same page.

The foreign minister was also pressed on the Uighurs in China to which Qureshi challenged whether everything needed to be addressed publicly. He added that China was a friend of Pakistan and "you adopt a different approach with friends."

Speaking on India's relations with Afghanistan, Qureshi said the two countries had a right to have bilateral relations but the purported use of Afghan territory to destabilise Pakistan was a concern. He added that Pakistan had intelligence and information backing these concerns.

 

[Firebat]

Possibility of civil war in Afghanistan if US withdraws without political settlement: Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned that Afghanistan faces the possibility of another civil war if the US withdraws its forces from the country without a political settlement.

The US began drawdown from May 1 and the process is supposed to complete by September 11, as per the revised plan given by the Biden administration.

However, the US has changed the plan and wants to leave Afghanistan at the earliest, according to Foreign Minister Qureshi.

“We will be partners in peace but not in conflict,” said the premier in an interview with Jonathan Swan.

“There must be a political settlement in Afghanistan before the Americans leave. Without a political settlement, there is a possibility of a civil war, and the country that will suffer the most after Afghanistan will be Pakistan.”

The premier went on to say that Pakistan is already hosting three million Afghan refugees and continued conflict in the war-torn neighbouring country could lead to another exodus towards Pakistan.

Responding to a question, the prime minister said being the most powerful nation in the world, the United States has a big responsibility.

Imran also categorically said that Pakistan would "absolutely not" allow any bases and use of its territory for any sort of action inside Afghanistan.

"Absolutely not. There is no way we are going to allow any bases, any sort of action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Absolutely not."

https://tribune.com.pk/story/230641...-withdraws-without-political-settlement-imran

 

[Last Monetarist]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Critical that there is a political settlement in Afghanistan before US forces leave the country. <a href="https://t.co/Brnx3F0zRl">https://t.co/Brnx3F0zRl</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1407360216015032332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1631495/us-pullout-deadline-diminished-islamabads-leverage-pm

The US decision to fix a date for withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan also diminished Pakistan’s leverage on the Taliban, says Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In an interview to two senior editors of The New York Times’ Opinion pages, recorded on Wednesday, the prime minister sought a new bond with the US after Sept 11, 2021, when the United States plans to pull out all its forces from Afghanistan.

The interview was published on June 25, when US President Joe Biden had his first face-to-face meeting with his Afghan counterpart, Ashraf Ghani, at the White House.

Mr Khan also talked about his efforts to build a closer relationship with Afghanis*tan and improve relations with India, regretting that the current Indian government does not seem interested in normalising relations, perhaps a change of government in Delhi would help.

“Given that the United States gave a date of withdrawal, from then onward, our leverage diminished on the Taliban. And the reason is that the moment the United States gave a date of exit, the Taliban basically claimed victory,” Mr Khan said. “They’re thinking that they won the war. And so therefore, our ability to influence them diminishes the stronger they feel.”

The prime minister said that Pakistan used its leverage to persuade the Taliban to join the Afghan peace process. “They were refusing to have talks, so it was Pakistan who got them to talk to the United States.

Pakistan, he said, also played a key role in convincing Taliban leaders to talk to the government in Kabul. “Really, it was [us] pushing them, pressurising them to talk to the Afghan government. So that’s how far Pakistan has got,” he said.

In an introductory piece published with the interview, Yara Bayoumy, the world and national security editor, and Jyoti Thottam, the deputy Op-Ed editor, noted that “with US forces leaving Afghanistan by Sept 11, Pakistan faces two urgent questions: What strategic clout does it have now? Where does it fit in the great power confrontation between the United States and China?”

They pointed out that while Mr Biden met President Ghani, he “has yet to have a conversation with Mr Khan. The interviewers also noted that in a recent interview with Axios, Mr Khan made “it clear that he would not accept CIA bases in the country for missions in Afghanistan”.

 

[MenInG]

The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday rejected Kabul's assertion that the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) did not operate on Afghan soil.

"The assertions of the Afghan side are contrary to facts on ground and various reports of the United Nations, which also corroborate the presence and activities of over 5000-strong TTP in Afghanistan," the FO spokesperson said.

A day earlier, the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said that the TTP was neither founded in Afghanistan nor did it operate on its soil.

The statement was issued after Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Islamabad is expecting the Afghan Taliban will not allow terrorists groups such as the TTP to carry out activities against Pakistan.

"This movement along with other terrorist groups is recognised as the enemy of peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region, and the Afghan government fights against this terrorist outfit like any other terrorist group without discrimination," the Afghan foreign ministry had said.

It had also called on all countries, especially Pakistan, to "treat all terrorist outfits equally and without discrimination".

In response to the statement, FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri said that over the last several years, the TTP has launched "gruesome terrorist attacks" inside Pakistan using Afghan soil without any retribution from its hosts.

"The 12th Report of the UN monitoring team issued in June 2021 acknowledges TTP’s 'distinctive anti-Pakistan objectives' and notes its location within Afghanistan 'near the border with Pakistan'.

"The TTP following its orchestrated reunification with its splinter groups with the help of hostile intelligence agencies, its continued presence in Afghanistan with impunity and its cross-border attacks against Pakistan poses persistent threat to our security and stability," he said.

Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, without any discrimination is unwavering and unambiguous, the FO spokesperson said.

"Pakistan has continued to emphasise the need for meaningful engagement with the Afghan side for addressing security and terrorism issues through the effective use of Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity.

"Pakistan has been making serious and sincere efforts for facilitating intra-Afghan peace process for an inclusive political settlement. We hope that Afghans would seize this opportunity for achieving lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan," the statement concluded.

DAWN

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1632178/situation-is-dangerous-in-afghanistan-zardari-warns-pakistan-could-face-blowback

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari termed the situation in Afghanistan "dangerous" on Tuesday, saying that Pakistan could face its "blowback".

Speaking to Dawn.com prior to the budget session in parliament, he stressed the need for Pakistan to "keep an eye" on the situation in Afghanistan and mull and deliberate on the matter.

He expressed hope that relevant officials and authorities would be monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country and take decisions accordingly.

In recent days, concerns have been raised over a security vacuum in Afghanistan amid the US pullout as the already dim prospects of successful reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Taliban are growing dimmer with every passing day.

Pakistani authorities fear a further intensification of the civil war in Afghanistan following the completion of the pullout in the absence of a political settlement. This, they apprehend, can have a spillover effect pushing refugees into Pakistan.

In a recent opinion piece for The Washington Post, Prime Minister Imran Khan pointed out that if there was a further civil war in Afghanistan instead of a political settlement, the number of refugees in Pakistan would increase thereby "further impoverishing the frontier areas on our border".

These fears are further fuelled by rising violence in the war-torn country in the wake of the US drawdown.

Since early May, the Taliban have launched major offensives targeting government forces across the rugged countryside. On June 22, the Taliban captured Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan,with security forces abandoning their posts and some fleeing across the frontier. The seizure of Shir Khan Bandar, in the far north of Afghanistan, about 50 kilometres from Kunduz city, was the most significant gain for the Taliban since the US began the final stage of its troop withdrawal in May.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1632586/pakistan-will-continue-to-play-its-role-for-lasting-peace-in-afghanistan-security-apparatus-briefs-lawmakers

The military high command told lawmakers at a high-level briefing on Thursday that Pakistan will welcome the true representative government of Afghanistan's people and continue to play its responsible role for lasting peace in the neighbouring country.

The closed-door briefing regarding the evolving situation in Afghanistan and other strategic matters was given during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.

In addition to the 29 members of the committee, some 16 legislators had been specially invited to the meeting which was attended by Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, while Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed gave the main briefing. Prime Minister Imran Khan did not attend it.

Committee chairman and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser presided over the meeting, during which the DG ISI gave the political and parliamentary leadership and lawmakers a comprehensive briefing on "important external matters, national security, internal challenges and regional developments especially the Kashmir conflict and Afghanistan's current situation", according to a statement released by the information ministry.

The meeting was told that Pakistan had honestly played a "very positive and responsible" role in the Afghan peace process.

"Due to Pakistan's efforts, not only was the path paved for talks between different Afghan factions and warring groups, but meaningful dialogue between the United States and Taliban was also started," the lawmakers were told.

"We believe in the fact that lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan will actually result in stability in South Asia," the ministry's press release added.

The meeting was told that Pakistan will welcome the true representative government of the people in Afghanistan "at every level" and continue its role for the Afghan peace process.

"Pakistan's land is not being used in the conflict going on in Afghanistan and the hope was expressed that Afghanistan's soil will also not be used against Pakistan," the statement said.

Lawmakers were informed that 90 per cent of the fencing at the Afghan border had been completed, while an effective system for customs and border control was also being formulated.

According to the handout, political leaders "expressed satisfaction" at the briefing and conveyed wishes for peace, progress and prosperity in Afghanistan.

The meeting started in the late afternoon and was continuing till late evening after a break. The information ministry said participants gave their suggestions during a question and answer session in the briefing, and that their "suggestions will be considered an important part of the security policy".

Earlier today, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had said that the course of politics in Pakistan would change following the military's security briefing to lawmakers.

The country's politics would now centre on national security after the briefing, the minister said, adding that he foresaw the government and opposition treading a new path together in politics.

 

[MenInG]

A special in-camera session of Parliamentary Defence Committee on National Security was held at the Parliament House in Islamabad with Speaker Asad Qaiser in chair, according to a statement issued by the Information Ministry.



The high-level huddle is being attended by Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other parliamentary leaders.

The director-general ISI comprehensively briefed the members on internal and external national security paradigm in the ever evolving geo-political and strategic environment, particularly the Kashmir issue and the current situation in Afghanistan, the official communiqué read.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza and chief military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar were also present during the briefing..

The participants were apprised that Pakistan would welcome the true representative government of the Afghan people and would continue to play its positive role in peace efforts in the war-torn country.

The security officials told the meeting that Pakistan's land is not being used in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. They also expressed hope that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against Pakistan, according to the statement.

The lawmakers expressed satisfaction over the briefing and wished for peace, development and prosperity in Afghanistan. They also appreciated the efforts of the COAS and the ISI chief in identifying various challenges and providing clarity on the issues confronted by Pakistan through a detailed and informative briefing.

The opposition members have been complaining that the elected representatives have been kept in the dark about Pakistan’s policy with regard to Afghanistan which faces an uncertain future and is potentially heading towards another civil war. Bilawal during his budget speech raised the issue and demanded a briefing from the relevant authorities on the Afghan situation.

Bilawal, on June 28, took credit for the meeting of the National Security Committee saying he was the one who was seeking this all-important meeting. It is expected that military and intelligence authorities would apprise the committee about the policy being pursued by Pakistan on Afghanistan and the country’s strategy to deal with the negative fallout of unrest in the neighbouring country.

Since the US and Nato forces began their withdrawal on May 1, the Afghan Taliban have made rapid inroads, capturing over 70 districts in 6 months and even stretching their influence to the north which had never been their stronghold in the past.

 

[MenInG]

A day after an all-important meeting of the parliamentary and military leadership in parliament, the controversy surrounding the attendance of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the meeting is not dying down as the government and the PML-N have blamed each other for the premier’s absence.

Surprising as it may seem, a key cabinet minister had informed The Express Tribune on Thursday night that “the prime minister wanted to attend the meeting but the PML-N gave a message to the National Assembly speaker that they would stage a walk out if the premier attends it”.

Sharing more details, the source revealed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out in his speech that the PM’s absence from such an important meeting was not a good gesture. To this, he said that NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had asked him to “enquire from Shehbaz Sharif (opposition leader in NA) why the PM is absent”.

On Friday, a BBC Urdu story quoted Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry saying almost the same thing in the Geo News’ programme ‘Geo Pakistan’, which then led to a rebuttal from the PML-N.

Meanwhile, the NA Secretariat has come to the rescue of the information minister as it issued a statement regarding PM Imran’s participation in the meeting and supported the stance that Fawad has already taken.

In a statement, the NA Secretariat spokesperson said that a news item being telecast on media regarding non-participation of the PM in the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on July 1 is “factually incorrect”.

“The prime minister is always willing to attend the meeting of the parliamentary committee and the only reason of his not attending it was reservations conveyed to the assembly secretariat by some opposition leaders,” the statement read without naming the opposition leaders referred to.

Since Fawad’s allegation, the PML-N leadership has not only rebutted the statement but accused the information minister of “lying”.

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, talking to the media in Islamabad, said, “Fawad is lying … Shehbaz had made no such demands.”

Rather, he said, if the PM had attended the national security meeting, it would have sent a message to the people of Pakistan that the entire country’s leadership was united on the issue of national security.

“If the country's leadership can sit for eight hours in a national security briefing by military leadership, why can’t it sit on its own on other national issues?”

He said that it would have been better if the PM had attended the meeting.

PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal said that the country would be better off if the PM and the foreign minister “kept their mouths shut”.

Iqbal claimed that the PM had never shown his desire to attend the meeting. “His name was never in the list of invitees.” He said the PM’s participation would have been a welcome sight.

PML-N Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb called Fawad a propaganda machine, saying that he blatantly lied about Shehbaz blocking Imran participation in the Parliamentary Committee on National Security meeting.

Responding to Fawad's statement, Marriyum said the meeting was called by the speaker and Shehbaz did not send any message to anyone.

She asked Fawad to furnish any proof of his claim that shows that Shehbaz was the reason behind Imran's absence in the all-important meeting.

Marriyum said Imran's name was not even in the original list of participants of the meeting published and sent to all participants. “How Shehbaz could have blocked someone who was never scheduled to attend the meeting,” she said.

She questioned, "Did Imran not attend the meeting on Covid-19 because of Shehbaz? Did Imran ditch the meeting on Kashmir because of Shehbaz? Did he not participate in any such meeting of national security and interest because of Shehbaz? Did Shehbaz prohibit him from attending the meeting on consultation for choosing the chairperson of the National Commission on Status of Women and National Commission on Human Rights? Did Shehbaz block Imran out of the meeting to decide members for the Election Commission?"

Meanwhile, the PPP has questioned the PM’s absence and sought explanation for not attending the parliamentary committee meeting, saying it sent a negative message.

In a statement, PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari said that the premier’s seriousness could be gauged from his absence from a meeting discussing the Afghan issue.

“Has the PM given a message that he has no concern with the internal and external policies by not attending the meeting,” Bukhari questioned, adding that several people were invited to the huddle but it seems that the PM was considering himself an irrelevant person to such a meeting.

He regretted that the PM preferred to attend other meetings instead of the one called on the national security issue.

Meanwhile, the JUI-F also released a statement, saying that the PM’s absence from an important meeting was a big question mark. The JUI-F spokesperson also demanded that the nation must be informed why the PM did not attend the meeting.

 

[MenInG]

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Monday said that his ministry, on the advice of the foreign ministry and the armed forces, was keeping a ‘keen eye’ on the situation in war-torn Afghanistan.

While addressing the media in Islamabad, the minister hoped that the situation in Afghanistan would not a repeat of the past and said that the "Pakistan armed forces and its institutions were ever ready to execute their national obligation".

He also said that border fencing with Iran would be completed in a period of year.

Rashid said that the interior ministry had requested the finance ministry to open at least 509 jobs in the FIA, to ensure that necessary personnel can be deployed at the border crossings with Afghanistan and prepare them accordingly amid the sensitive situation in the region.

“Enforcement agencies are on duty at the entry points of Chaman and Torkham borders, the FIA will ensure a system of electronic entry at the crossings July 30,” he said.

Talking about Lahore Johar Town terrorist attack, the minister said that Punjab Police had worked brilliantly during the investigation and the interior ministry’s suspicion was confirmed regarding the involvement of the Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

“Another group is also under custody. Institutions would decide when to announce the details because the courts get involved as well. India has not accepted us. Its agencies are not abstaining from carrying out activities in Pakistan,” he said.

Rashid added that the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman had been directed to ‘get rid' of corrupt personnel in the authority.

“At least 30 people from NADRA office in Karachi were found involved in issuing counterfeit ID cards. About 19 of the officials had been suspended whereas a JIT would also be formed if required,” the minister added.

Talking about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Uzbekistan this month, the minister said that the interior minister would sign two MoUs with Tashkent, one of which would be for granting a five to seven-day visa at the border before entry and the other one would be for granting free visa entry on diplomatic passports.

The minister also said that a decision on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) would be taken in the next cabinet meeting

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pakistan has done everything possible to destabilize and destroy Afghanistan for their own vested interests. No amount of these hollow comments make any difference to this fact and Afghans are well within their rights in hating Pakistanis.

Pakistanis often say they have done a huge favour by sheltering Afghan refugees which is like the most idiotic, insensitive and ignorant thing I have ever heard because you are the reason these people cannot leave at peace in their own country.

Mind your own business.
Secure your borders.
Stop using Afghan mercenaries for your agendas

As for Afganistan, they remain.a cursed nation. As bad as Pakistan has been to them, they themselves are their worst enemies. If your own people are idiots, none can save you.

If this irks, good, I don't care either.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Pakistan has done everything possible to destabilize and destroy Afghanistan for their own vested interests. No amount of these hollow comments make any difference to this fact and Afghans are well within their rights in hating Pakistanis.

Pakistanis often say they have done a huge favour by sheltering Afghan refugees which is like the most idiotic, insensitive and ignorant thing I have ever heard because you are the reason these people cannot leave at peace in their own country.

Mind your own business.
Secure your borders.
Stop using Afghan mercenaries for your agendas

As for Afganistan, they remain.a cursed nation. As bad as Pakistan has been to them, they themselves are their worst enemies. If your own people are idiots, none can save you.

If this irks, good, I don't care either.

What vested interests does Pakistan have in destablising or destroying Afghanistan? How does it benefit Pakistan?

 

[Bhaijaan]

What vested interests does Pakistan have in destablising or destroying Afghanistan? How does it benefit Pakistan?

Bro i have changed my posting philosophy particularly for TP section. I don't believe in follow-up posts anymore. They don't serve any purpose rather than making threads unecessarily longer and it diminishes overall quality of discussion.

Believe in take it or ignore it policy.

It's helped me keep my sanity too.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Pakistan has done everything possible to destabilize and destroy Afghanistan for their own vested interests. No amount of these hollow comments make any difference to this fact and Afghans are well within their rights in hating Pakistanis.

Pakistanis often say they have done a huge favour by sheltering Afghan refugees which is like the most idiotic, insensitive and ignorant thing I have ever heard because you are the reason these people cannot leave at peace in their own country.

Mind your own business.
Secure your borders.
Stop using Afghan mercenaries for your agendas

As for Afganistan, they remain.a cursed nation. As bad as Pakistan has been to them, they themselves are their worst enemies. If your own people are idiots, none can save you.

If this irks, good, I don't care either.

Thats fine, they can hate Pakistan all they want. But why take refugee in a country which you hate? Doesnt make sense? Afghanistan has other neighboring countries. And the feeling is mutual. Most Pakistanis dont like Afghanistan either.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Pakistan has no responsibility to reduce violence in Afghanistan. All Pakistan should do is ensure their territory is not used by any group to launch attacks in Afghanistan. Thats it.

If the Taliban take the country, as unfortunate as that would be for the people of Afghanistan, that's their problem.

 

[Pakpak]

What vested interests does Pakistan have in destablising or destroying Afghanistan? How does it benefit Pakistan?

The troll forgot it was Afghanistan who started all this from 50s. Even attempting am invasion and trying every year to break KPK.

Pakistan only started giving it to them after 1980

 

[mazkhan]

Our generals better hope the Afghan taliban don't turn their guns on them because we could see the end of pakistan if taliban switch on us and ally with the ttp and baloch rebels the war could spillover and implode pakistan.

 

[King-Misbah]

Our generals better hope the Afghan taliban don't turn their guns on them because we could see the end of pakistan if taliban switch on us and ally with the ttp and baloch rebels the war could spillover and implode pakistan.

Implode Pakistan? That can not happen. We just need to secure our borders and don't let this Afghan mess spill over. Its not our issue. We can help refugees but they must be not given the libility to access Pakistani cities. They need to be kept in camps away from Pakistani cities. Finally, we have peace and we can not afford anything that goes against peace. Pakistani awaam deserves properity, peace and being the priority.

Afghans should refugee in Iran or India. They don't like us anyways.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Our generals better hope the Afghan taliban don't turn their guns on them because we could see the end of pakistan if taliban switch on us and ally with the ttp and baloch rebels the war could spillover and implode pakistan.

The Taliban won't turn their guns on Pakistan, they already made that clear when India approached them recently to try to open communications. Pashtun heartlands straddle both Pakistan and Afghanistan, that has been the case since Pakistan's inception. That border was always porous, it was never a real problem until 9/11.

With NATO packing up and leaving, it's the other areas which will be fearing Taliban re-establishing control. Already thousands of Afghan soldiers have fled to Tajikistan, which is probably where most of them came from in the first place.

 

[King-Misbah]

The Taliban won't turn their guns on Pakistan, they already made that clear when India approached them recently to try to open communications. Pashtun heartlands straddle both Pakistan and Afghanistan, that has been the case since Pakistan's inception. That border was always porous, it was never a real problem until 9/11.

With NATO packing up and leaving, it's the other areas which will be fearing Taliban re-establishing control. Already thousands of Afghan soldiers have fled to Tajikistan, which is probably where most of them came from in the first place.

Pashtun heartland? There needs to be concrete border control. Afghans have caused issues in the past and we should not have a porous border with them, this is just inviting trouble. We should not be an automatic second home that Afghans can abuse. It is not fair on our country and our population.