GHQ visit: Centcom chief steps in to defuse Pak-Afghan tensions

Gen Jospheh L Votel calls for meaningful engagement among stakeholders

ISLAMABAD: Amid simmering tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following the recent terrorist attacks, the United States on Monday stepped in to defuse the situation going from bad to worse as the top US general called for ‘meaningful engagement’ among all stakeholders involved in peace and stability in the war-torn country.

At the same time Com­mander US Central Command (Centcom) General Jospheh L Votel also threw his weight behind Pakistan’s stance seeking all-inclusive reconciliation in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led process.

The top US general visited the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and held talks with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Both sides discussed professional matters with special focus on the security situation in Afghanistan, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Last week, Afghanistan was rocked by a series of attacks killing over 50 people, including some foreign diplomats. The uptick in violence triggered war of words between the two countries, whose relations have already been tense for months.

Gen Qamar informed the US general that Pakistan had undertaken operations against terrorists of “all hue and colour and there are no safe havens inside Pakistan to be used against Afghanistan”.

The army chief cautioned that rhetoric from certain factions implicating Pakistan in recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and the blame game was detrimental to enduring peace and stability.

Gen Qamar expressed his commitment to working in close coordination with Afghanistan and the US-led Resolute Support Mission (RSM) for improved security environment in the Pak–Afghan border region.

In this regard he emphasised requirement of Pak–Afghan bilateral border security and intelligence-sharing mechanisms, the ISPR said.

“Pakistan supports and looks forward to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process,” the army chief said. He also highlighted the importance Pakistan accords to its relations with the US, particularly cooperation in counter-terrorism and regional stability.

The visiting general acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s successes in fight against terrorism and continued efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region.

General Votel also emphasised the need for continued and meaningful engagement between all stakeholders involved in peace and stability of Afghanistan. “He supported the views of COAS on inclusive reconciliation in Afghanistan through an Afghan owned and Afghan led process,” the ISPR quoted him as saying.

Earlier on arrival at the GHQ, a smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented Guard of Honor to the visiting dignitary. Gen Votel also laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e- Shuhada to pay homage to martyrs.

Aziz visits Afghan Embassy

In a related development, Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Monday visited to the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad to sign the condolence book and said the scourge of terrorism was affecting peace of the entire region.

“It is a common enemy that can only be effectively countered through coordinated efforts carried out in a spirit of mutual trust,” Aziz said, according to the Foreign Office.

He said the government and people of Pakistan were deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the three terrorist attacks that took place in Kabul, Kandahar and Helmand on 10 January 2017.

“While condemning these heinous acts of terrorism in strongest terms, we reiterate our cooperation to the government and people of Afghanistan in fighting this menace,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2017.