There is a need for mutual understanding and more bilateralism in the Pak-Afghan relations.
RAWALPINDI: Recently, Afghan officials alleged that Pakistani troops in civilian clothes conducted attacks in areas of Afghanistan’s Kunar province. Pakistan was also blamed for the attack on Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan presidential candidate, which was strongly rejected by Pakistan.
The Afghan National Security Council, which is chaired by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, had said that a foreign agency had acted “through Lashkar-e-Taiba in an organised manner, and the terrorists were aiming to disrupt the election in Afghanistan”. Karzai has been assured by both presidential candidates that they will appoint him as an adviser in the Afghan government but he seems to have different ideas; he insists on clinging to power by holding on to Afghanistan — the citadel of his power — for an indefinite time span. While Pakistan is eager to see Afghanistan become a peaceful, stable and economically prosperous state, Hamid Karzai is involved in power seeking schemes and blame game.
Pakistan has stated several times that it has no favourites in Afghanistan and fully supports the peace and reconciliation efforts of Kabul. There is a need for mutual understanding and more bilateralism in the Pak-Afghan relations as both countries depend on each other when it comes to security and stability.
Anza Kanwal
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
