Three-day moot: Envoys conference on Trump's Afghan strategy kicks off
Khawaja Asif says solution to the long standing Afghan conflict cannot be found through force
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s envoys posted in key world capitals on Tuesday began consultations to prepare recommendations for the government to deal with the situation evolving in the wake of the new Afghan strategy the US President Donald Trump announced last month.
The 3-day Envoys Conference is being attended by Pakistan’s ambassadors from key world capitals including the United States, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, India, Russia, China and others.
World responds to Trump's new Afghan strategy
An official handout said envoys from various capitals would deliberate over a range of bilateral, regional and global dimensions of Pakistan’s foreign policy. However, its main purpose, officials said, is to seek input from senior diplomats on how to deal with the new US plan for Afghanistan.
The conference was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who outlined the government’s approach on the Afghan situation. The foreign minister said solution to the long-standing conflict in the war ravaged country could not be found through use of force.
“The only viable option [for peace] is an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process,” he added.
In his policy speech on August 21, President Trump agreed to send additional troops to Afghanistan to break the stalemate. He also singled out Pakistan by accusing it of supporting certain militant groups. He said Pakistan must stop giving support to ‘agents of chaos, violence and terrorism.’
Many analysts agree that the Trump administration may resort to tough measures – including political, diplomatic, economic and even military – to persuade Pakistan to stop its alleged support to groups including the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network.
Pakistan civil and military authorities as well as the parliament have unanimously rejected the allegations and reminded the US of its ‘enormous sacrifices’ in the fight against terrorism.
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The National Assembly and Senate in their resolutions even called for using the option of blocking the crucial supply lines Pakistan provide to the US and other foreign forces in Afghanistan.
Islamabad has also put on hold bilateral engagement with Washington. But the move is believed to be linked to Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to prepare a comprehensive response to the new US strategy.
Officials said the plan would be finalised once the envoys give their key input. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will also address the concluding session of the envoys conference on Thursday. The envoys then will formulate their proposals and recommendations for the government.
Pakistan’s envoys posted in key world capitals on Tuesday began consultations to prepare recommendations for the government to deal with the situation evolving in the wake of the new Afghan strategy the US President Donald Trump announced last month.
The 3-day Envoys Conference is being attended by Pakistan’s ambassadors from key world capitals including the United States, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, India, Russia, China and others.
World responds to Trump's new Afghan strategy
An official handout said envoys from various capitals would deliberate over a range of bilateral, regional and global dimensions of Pakistan’s foreign policy. However, its main purpose, officials said, is to seek input from senior diplomats on how to deal with the new US plan for Afghanistan.
The conference was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who outlined the government’s approach on the Afghan situation. The foreign minister said solution to the long-standing conflict in the war ravaged country could not be found through use of force.
“The only viable option [for peace] is an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process,” he added.
In his policy speech on August 21, President Trump agreed to send additional troops to Afghanistan to break the stalemate. He also singled out Pakistan by accusing it of supporting certain militant groups. He said Pakistan must stop giving support to ‘agents of chaos, violence and terrorism.’
Many analysts agree that the Trump administration may resort to tough measures – including political, diplomatic, economic and even military – to persuade Pakistan to stop its alleged support to groups including the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network.
Pakistan civil and military authorities as well as the parliament have unanimously rejected the allegations and reminded the US of its ‘enormous sacrifices’ in the fight against terrorism.
Trump's new Afghan strategy is actually a ploy against CPEC, claims Russian journalist
The National Assembly and Senate in their resolutions even called for using the option of blocking the crucial supply lines Pakistan provide to the US and other foreign forces in Afghanistan.
Islamabad has also put on hold bilateral engagement with Washington. But the move is believed to be linked to Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to prepare a comprehensive response to the new US strategy.
Officials said the plan would be finalised once the envoys give their key input. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will also address the concluding session of the envoys conference on Thursday. The envoys then will formulate their proposals and recommendations for the government.