A delegation of Pakistani parliamentarians has called on Wolesi Jirga (Afghanistan parliament) Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi to discuss Islamabad-Kabul ties and stability in Afghanistan, Tolo News reported on Saturday.
Stressing the need for strong ties, the delegation said, “Pakistan helped Afghans during the jihad against the then Soviet Russia (USSR), but they said Pakistan has not cooperated sincerely.”
“Problems and challenges have to be led by our people, and we strongly believe that for a stable Pakistan, for a prosperous Pakistan, we need to see a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. This is the concern of people at home,” said Shazia Marri, member of Pakistan’s parliament and former minister of information and culture of Pakistan.
Rauf Ibrahimi said Afghanistan is a victim of terrorism in the region, as he criticised Pakistan for the “lack of sincere cooperation in anti-terror efforts”.
“The required cooperation which was provided by the Pakistan nation and Pakistan government to Afghanistan during jihad, was not provided after the victory of mujahedeen,” Ibrahimi said.
Upon which, the Pakistani delegation member replied: “No country suffered like Pakistan. We used to have more than 2,500 bombings in Pakistan and we have launched the biggest operation against terrorism. We are getting out of it and our relations on that front are improving.
The meeting comes as Islamabad is to host a meeting among lawmakers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, China, and Russia to discuss the war on terror.
The delegation also invited the speaker to attend the meeting in Islamabad, next week.
