PTM leader thanks Afghan president for what Pakistan condemns as ‘gross interference’

MNA Mohsin Dawar welcomes Ashraf Ghani’s tweet criticising Pakistan for alleged rights abuses

An elected member of Pakistan’s parliament, who belongs to the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), has thanked Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for a statement which has been unanimously condemned by Pakistani politicians and media as “gross interference” in Pakistan’s internal matters.

A tweet by Mohsin Dawar, a young MNA from Waziristan region, thanking President Ghani might only damage the PTM’s cause by providing grist to the rumour mill that someone else is pulling the strings of the movement.

The Afghan leader on Thursday took to Twitter to unleash unprecedented criticism of the Pakistani government for its alleged rights abuses in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) February 7, 2019

We believe it is the moral responsibility of every government to support civil activities that take a stand against the terrorism and extremism that plagues and threatens our region and collective security. Otherwise there could be long-standing negative consequences.

— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) February 7, 2019

Ghani’s tweet came days after a group of PTM activists were detained during a protest against the killing of a fellow activist Professor Ibrahim, alias Arman Loni, allegedly by police in Loralai district of Balochistan.

Surprisingly while Pakistani government, politicians, and media persons condemned with one voice President Ghani’s “gross interference in Pakistan’s internal matters”, MNA Mohsin Dawar thanked the Afghan leader for his support.

I wld like to thank @ashrafghani for his words. I wish, at the very least, our state had realized its crime of martyring Arman Loni, but instead it launched a crackdown on our grief. And now it is condemning those who offer sympathy to us? By what standard of humanity is this ok?

— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) February 7, 2019

Pakistani security officials have long suspected that the Afghan intelligence agencies support the PTM in an attempt to destabilise Pakistan by cashing in on the grievances of the Pashtun people.

Kabul and PTM both deny this allegation, but MNA Dawar’s tweet, which is in stark contrast to the state stance, could only lend credence to suspicion.

Amrullah Saleh, former chief of Afghanistan’s NDS intelligence agency and incumbent interior minister who is known for his hostility towards Pakistan, also weighed in on the issue after Ghani’s tweet.

I fully echo this serious concern and call upon the Afghan civil society to show solid solidarity with the peaceful civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & Baluchistan. We are connected by bonds of history, geography & culture & also suffer from the same circle of perpetrators. https://t.co/mNvxkA7WW8

— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) February 7, 2019

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi rejected the "irresponsible statement" of President Ghani as "gross interference".

We reject the tweet by President Ashraf Ghani. Such irresponsible statements are only gross interference. Afghan leadership needs to focus on long-standing serious grievances of the Afghan people.

— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) February 7, 2019

The Ghani administration was left out of high-profile intra-Afghan reconciliation talks in Moscow where the Taliban for the first time sat across the table with Afghanistan's politicians, including former president Hamid Karzai. And analysts believe Ghani decided to vent his frustration by directing his criticism at Pakistan.

#Ashraf Ghani is a spent force in Afghanistan politically. His anti-Pakistan rants are meant to hide frustration over isolation by Afghan politicians & Taliban. His only choice is going back 2 Intelectual work in #US. US will not sacrifice strategic priorities 4 his career gaol.

— Jan Achakzai / جان اچکزئی (@Jan_Achakzai) February 7, 2019

Columnist Musharraf Zaidi also voiced similar views. "Poor Ashraf Ghani. Can't get an invite to Moscow for talks about the future of the country he is president of, so makes a play for some likes on Lar o Bar Facebook. Adorable," he said.

Poor Ashraf Ghani.

Can’t get an invite to Moscow for talks about the future of the country he is president of, so makes a play for some likes on Lar o Bar Facebook.

Adorable. https://t.co/WkAd7rOMAs

— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) February 7, 2019

Senior anchorperson and journalist Hamid Mir accused Kabul of nurturing the Khorasan franchise of ISIS.

We Pakistanis have serious concerns about your secret support to ISIS we have evidence that your government is helping ISIS against your opponents you condemned the Moscow meeting because all the participants from Stanikzai to Karzai and Younas Qanooni to Zadran are anti-ISIS https://t.co/CfSNDu8Uvy

— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 7, 2019

Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar warned the Afghan leader that his "comment on what is clearly an internal matter for Pakistan… can only worsen the situation".

Sad @ashrafghani would think it appropriate to comment on what is clearly an internal matter for Pak. Baloch, Pashtun, Saraiki, Punjabi & Sindhi r Pakistanis and we certainly need to fix many things but am sure u know that ur comments can only worsen situation not help it. 1/2 https://t.co/k7wI3PAnB6

— Hina Rabbani Khar (@HinaRKhar) February 7, 2019

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari took "strong exception to this absurd statement" of Ghani and advised him to better address the grievances of his own people".

Take strong exception to this absurd statement. He wld do better to address the grievances of his own ppl and try to work with his govt and NATO to stop infiltration of terrorists across the international border from Afghanistan into Pakistan. https://t.co/X09LrJqwTs

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 7, 2019

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman reminded the Afghan leader that democratic forces in Pakistan have already been fighting for civil and human rights and they don't need anyone from outside to interfere.

Respectfully @ashrafghani, Democratic forces in Pakistan have been fighting for civil,humanrights, and will continue to do so.But if we seek non-interference and positive support in each other’s countries in order to achieve peace, let’s uphold those values all round. https://t.co/LWLp7NHElt

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) February 7, 2019

Another senior journalist, Mubashir Zaidi, called it an attempt to divide the Pakistani nation. "You're attempt to divide us will fail," he wrote on Twitter.

You're attempt to divide us will fail https://t.co/hXBGtMVp9s

— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) February 7, 2019

Calling the questionable tweet ‘blatantly provocative’, senior journalist Syed Talat Hussain wrote on Twitter: “Mohsin Dawar is only proving his critics and nasty theories about PTM correct.”

By showing pointless gratitude to Prez Ashraf Ghani on his blatantly provocative tweet on Pakistan’s internal affairs, Mohsin Dawar is only proving his critics and nasty theories about PTM correct. If thats what he wants Ghani is his go-to guy. https://t.co/A90VDeSW57

— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 7, 2019

When all Pakistani politicians and media persons criticised the Afghan president’s Twitter statement, MNA Mohsin Dawar’s note of thanks to Ghani might only hurt the PTM and strengthen the perception that the movement is doing someone else’s bidding.