Pakistan has no power-sharing formula in Afghanistan: Aziz

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said Pakistan has no power-sharing formula in Afghanistan.

In an exclusive interview with the Voice of America (VOA), Aziz said, “It is there internal matter and we are just trying to help in the negotiations.”

He said it was necessary that all stakeholders collectively find a way for reconciliation to prevent civil war, and to sustain peace in Afghanistan after the exclusion of NATO forces from there.

Aziz said the purpose behind his visit to Afghanistan was to invite Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Pakistan and to explain to him Pakistan’s policy. “As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan’s policy regarding Afghanistan is that of non-interference and not supporting any specific group in Afghanistan.”

“We are trying to arrange a meeting between the Taliban and the High Peace Council so that they can fix with whom and on which points negotiations should be done. It was our effort that this process should start in Doha,” he said.

“Security and peace are becoming more complicated which should be resolved with negotiations and in a democratic way,” he added.

Aziz said it was clear that Pakistan’s interest depended on peace and security in Afghanistan because “we have to live together here forever”.

To a query regarding the role of India in Afghanistan, he said India had done a lot of development work there.

“If the foundations of the relationship with Afghanistan are based on economy, trade and investment, then the common man will benefit from it. I have invited the Afghan minister for trade to resolve the existing difficulties,” Aziz said.