Islamabad: Pakistan’s civil and military leadership on Monday reaffirmed the commitment to work with the international community and all Afghan stakeholders to facilitate an inclusive political settlement in the war-torn country.
Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting in Islamabad which was attended by senior cabinet members and three services chiefs. NSC, the country’s premium forum on national security, met to discuss the regional security situation and Pakistan’s future startegy following the Taliban takeover in neighbouring Afghanistan after US withdrawal.
The NSC participants called on all parties and ethnic groups in Afghanistan “to respect the rule of law, protect fundamental human rights of all Afghans, and ensure that Afghan soil is not used by any terrorist organisation/group against any country.”
Pakistan believes that the international community’s continued engagement for durable peace in Afghanistan was a shared responsibility. “It is now time for the international community to work together to ensure an inclusive political settlement for long term peace, security and development of Afghanistan and the region.”
Restating Pakistan’s stance that the conflict in Afghanistan never had a military solution, the participants noted that “The ideal time to end the conflict through negotiations might have been when the US and NATO troops were at maximum military strength in Afghanistan.” Pakistan endorsed the Biden administration’s withdrawal decision, saying it was a “logical conclusion to this conflict.”
The NSC noted that Pakistan was a victim of the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan and desired peace and stability in the neighbourhood. It called upon the world to recognize the sacrifices made by Pakistan over four decades.
Prime Minister Imran Khan directed for all possible travel facilities for Pakistanis, other nationals, diplomats, journalists and staff of international organizations seeking to leave Afghanistan. Khan lauded the ongoing efforts of the Pakistan embassy in Kabul for round the clock facilitation for travellers from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, at the request of the Danish government, Pakistan facilitated the evacuation of 431 Afghan nationals from Kabul on August 15 and is assisting their onward travel to Denmark.
Afghan delegation in Pakistan
On Monday, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met a delegation of Afghan political leaders who are on a three-day visit (August 15-18) to Islamabad.
“Pakistan considered all segments of the Afghan society important in the final destiny of Afghanistan” and expressed the hope that Afghan leaders would take advantage of international support and work together. Emphasizing that lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s interest, FM Qureshi reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to play its constructive role to support a peaceful, united and prosperous Afghanistan.
The delegation includes Speaker Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rehmani, Salahuddin Rabbani, Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, Karim Khalili, Ahmad Zia Massoud, Ahmad Wali Massoud, Abdul Latif Pedram, Khalid Noor and Ustad Mohammad Mohaqiq. They appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for an inclusive political solution as a key neighbouring country.
Pakistan is planning to host a conference on Afghanistan with key regional countries and other stakeholders as part of efforts to push for peace and stability in the region.
