- Mosazai says Afghan govt has created strong consensus in Afghanistan for talks and reconciliation with Taliban
- Afghan envoy summoned to convey Pakistan’s concerns over Afghan allegations
Afghan Ambassador to Islamabad Janan Mosazai has said his country considers Pakistan’s role “essential” in the reconciliation process with the Afghan Taliban.
“Given the nature of the reality we are facing, the role of our neighbours, primarily the role of our brothers and sisters here in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, continues to be essential for our ultimate common success in this regard,” Ambassador Mosazai said.
The statement comes amidst a stalemate in the Pakistan-brokered talks between the Afghan government and Taliban, and rising diplomatic tension between the two neighbours following a series of deadly attacks in Afghanistan.
Referring to the Afghan Taliban as armed opposition, the envoy said his government has created a strong national consensus among all political forces for negotiations and reconciliation with the Taliban.
Commenting on Pak-Afghan relations, Mosazai said there is a consensus between the two countries that “if there is no peace in Afghanistan, there will neither be peace in Pakistan nor in much of the rest of the region.”
“We have been fighting this senseless imposed war not just for ourselves but also on behalf of the entire region,” he added. Further, he called for the unified efforts of the entire region not only to put an end to the ongoing war but also to counter the growing threat of Daesh (Islamic State).
While referring to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Islamabad in November last year, the ambassador said the visit was a bold, conscious approach to open not just a new chapter but a new book in the bilateral relationship, based on non-interference, mutual respect and shared interests.
“We have more than enough core interests in common — from a common fight against terrorism and extremism, to deeper win-win economic integration and closer people-to-people ties.”
Regarding the economic integration of the two countries, Mosazai informed the gathering that both countries have made tremendous progress in two projects which have the potential to transform the entire region, namely CASA-1000 and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Mosazai was called in by Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry on Wednesday to convey concerns over recent spate of Afghan government’s allegations and media campaign to malign Pakistan.
The foreign secretary stressed that such allegations undermine mutual confidence and affect the environment of bilateral relations that both countries had been working hard to improve.
Pakistan has been acting with maximum restraint and avoiding any blame-game, a statement from the Foreign Office said.
“A strong protest was also lodged on cross-border violations from the Afghan side on August 16 and 17, 2015, which resulted in Shahadat of three FC personnel and injuries to two others.”
The Afghan ambassador was conveyed that, “as a matter of policy, Pakistani authorities do not initiate fire and return fire only in self-defence,” the statement further said.
The foreign secretary further conveyed to the ambassador that as per the guidance of the leadership, Pakistan would continue its policy of restraint and responsibility and constructive engagement with Afghanistan.
“We expect that the Afghan government would also reciprocate by taking effective measures to obviate recurrence of such incidents on the border, and work with Pakistan to build mutual trust and good neighbourly relations,” the statement added.
On Tuesday, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul and lodged a strong protest over “Pakistani troops shelling” in eastern Kunar province.
The Afghan Foreign Ministry said that deputy foreign minister Atiqullah Atifmal had “conveyed serious concerns” to the Pakistani envoy Abrar Hussain.
“Eight Afghan security personnel had been killed in Nari district of Kunar province and the shelling also caused huge losses to property,” an Afghan Foreign Ministry said.
The Afghan deputy foreign minister complained that “it is not the first time Pakistani troops fired into Afghan side of the Durand Line. The Pakistani ambassador has been summoned several times; however, there has been no change in Pakistan’s policy.”
