—Pakistan, Afghanistan reiterate commitment to peace, stability
KABUL: Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Lt Gen (r) Nasser Janjua on Sunday met Afghan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah during his visit to Afghanistan.
Janjua was on a one-day visit to the neighbouring country on the invitation of his Afghan counterpart, Haneef Atmar.
During the meeting, both sides agreed that the Taliban should utilise new and timely peace offer made by the Afghan government.
Pakistan and Afghanistan reiterated their commitment to peace and stability in the region and agreed to work in a cooperative framework for a brighter future while also expressing the resolve to work together and enhance bilateral cooperation.
According to details shared by Abdullah on his Twitter account, inter-state dialogues for improvement of ties between the two states were also part of the meeting.
Earlier on Saturday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met Nasser Janjua and invited Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi to start “state to state comprehensive dialogue”.
During the meeting with Ghani, Janjua said that Pakistan was ready to make all possible efforts for strong and stable ties between both countries.
Ghani also expressed strong support for regional connectivity with Central Asian Republics (CARS) to reap the benefits of ideal geo-strategic locations of Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying, “Without each other, we are not complete.”
Janjua also met Atmar and discussed bilateral ties and regional security issues.
Earlier, a spokesperson of NSA observed that peaceful Afghanistan is a guarantee to stable Pakistan.
Both Pak-Afghan representatives are expected to develop a policy to work together and establish a way to strengthen the bilateral ties and enhance the cooperation.
On February 3, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, while addressing the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Solidarity (APAPS) in Kabul, remarked that Pakistan and Afghanistan instead of blame game should engage in concrete cooperation.
A top-level delegation of Pakistan’s civil and military leadership, led by Tehmina Janjua, had travelled to Afghanistan to attend the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Working Group meeting.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan had proposed five joint working groups, focusing on ensuring a comprehensive engagement for countering terrorism, intelligence sharing, military, economy, trade and transit interaction, refugee repatriation and connectivity.
The FO spokesperson also reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to support efforts for peace in Afghanistan, but the Afghan government needs to reach a settlement with different Afghan groups.
On February 3, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left open the possibility for talks with militants who accept peace but said the door was closed to those who cause tragedies like recent attacks in the capital, Kabul.
An attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul on January 20 and a suicide bombing in a crowded city street a week later have stoked public anger and stepped up pressure on Ghani’s Western-backed government to improve security.
The attacks, which killed more than 130 people and were claimed by the Taliban, have also raised fresh doubts about long-running efforts to initiate talks with the insurgents.
The president’s office said that the militants had crossed a “red line” and peace would have to be won on the battlefield.
But Ghani raised the possibility of reconciliation with some militants in a speech to clerics in Kabul. “Those who are responsible for this tragedy and do not want peace, the door of peace is closed to them,” Ghani said.
“Those who accept peace, they will witness that the nation will embrace them. But there is a clear difference, our commitment to bringing peace does not mean we will sit quietly and won’t retaliate.”
“We will dig them out from any hiding holes.”
