ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday appreciated the US decision of withdrawal from Afghanistan in 18 months and said that for peace in the region it is essential that ongoing disputes and all problems helpful in terrorism be eliminated.
He said that if the US has decided to withdraw its army from Afghanistan for the restoration of peace, this is a welcome step for establishing peace in Pakistan.
Shujaat also said that the Senate Standing Committee on Defence headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed had visited Kabul in 2014 which included the senators of all political parties of the country. “After Pakistan delegation was briefed by the then US diplomat for Afghanistan David Kingham, I had advised that the US has no option other than holding peace talks with the Taliban for establishing peace and during peace negotiations with the Taliban, US should not only listen to their demands but also should also accept those for sake of establishing peace. Thank God, after the passage of five years, the US is not only holding negotiations with the Taliban but also accepting their demands as a result of which durable peace in Asia, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be possible.
He said that the US neither acknowledges nor appreciates the immortal sacrifices which Pakistan has offered in the US war on terror, but now the time has come for the US to acknowledge these immortal sacrifices of Pakistan. “In this war, the way the army leadership particularly Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa, realising the need and importance of peace, adopted a wise strategy and continued efforts for establishing peace. We salute them because of which the way is being paved for peace in the region, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
