Afghan envoy Dr Omar Zakhilwal. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Afghan’s ambassador to Pakistan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman on Tuesday called for ending tensions and removing mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, who met Imran Khan at his Bani Gala residence, also conveyed his country’s concerns over alleged harassment of Afghan refugees in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI is in power.
“We agreed that tensions and mistrust is not in the interests of either side,” Zakhilwal said after the meeting. “It was hoped that the recent meeting between the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan in Tashkent will have positive results for bilateral relations as the meeting was aimed at lowering tensions and enhancing trust,” he added.
Zakhilwal said he raised the issue of “harassment of Afghan refugees in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa” by the police and stressed that they should not be made a scapegoat. He demanded that the PTI chief direct his party’s government in K-P to show respect for Afghan refugees. Imran promised that he would talk to the chief minister and the police chief and ask them to stop harassment of the refugees, according to Zakhilwal.
On its part, the PTI said the Afghan envoy and Imran agreed to step up efforts to improve Pak-Afghan relations. Imran said Afghan refugees should demonstrate responsibility in view of the serious threats to Pakistan’s security.
He said the K-P government was taking care of the refugees from its meagre resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2016.
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