Reaction: Pakistan hails ‘positive development’ in Kabul

Says deal became possible due to wise leadership of Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah.


Kamran Yousaf September 21, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Terming it a ‘positive development’, Pakistan has welcomed the power-sharing deal between Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah in Afghanistan.

“The government and the people of Pakistan welcome the agreement signed by the two presidential candidates in Afghanistan regarding the establishment of a government of national unity,” said a statement issued by the foreign office on Sunday.



The reaction came hours after uncertainly surrounding the future of democratic transition in the neighbouring country ended as a result of the much-awaited agreement.

“Consistent with our support for a peaceful democratic transition, we regard the signing of this agreement as a positive development. This outcome has been possible due to the wise and sagacious leadership of  Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam.

“We congratulate the two leaders and the brotherly people of Afghanistan and reaffirm Pakistan’s support for all their efforts to build a peaceful, stable and unified Afghanistan,” she added.

Pakistan, whose role is seen as crucial for any future political dispensation in Afghanistan because of its historic ties with certain groups, has also been closely watching the developments unfolding in the neighbouring country.

Relations between the two neighbours have been tense in recent weeks due to allegations and counter-allegations against each other regarding militant attacks. Only recently, the Pakistan Army claimed to have repulsed an attack on one of its border posts from across Afghanistan. The attack had left 11 suspected militants and four soldiers dead.

The militant attack came in the wake of an announcement by a key faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to renounce violence in Pakistan and shift its militant activities to Afghanistan. The announcement by Asmatullah Muawiya, the head of Punjabi Taliban, prompted Kabul to summon a senior Pakistani diplomatic to lodge a protest over the move.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has accused Afghanistan of doing little to dismantle ‘terrorist sanctuaries’ in Khost and Nuristan provinces. The chief military spokesperson has publicly stated that Pakistan would continue to raise the issue of TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah – who is allegedly hiding in Afghanistan – unless he was apprehended or killed.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2014.

COMMENTS (4)

Philip Smeeton | 9 years ago | Reply

Stay well out and let Muslims sort out their own mess. There are many Muslim countries, let them take in Muslim refugees.

the Skunk | 9 years ago | Reply

Shabash! Mubarak ho! Viva! Bravo! InshAllah peace and brotherhood will return to Afghanistan. InshAllah there will be no ethnic, sectarian, and racial murders. An act that is the most detestable of all human practices. Salams

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