Khalilzad praises PM Imran's statement on Afghanistan

PM Imran's statement on Afghanistan has the 'potential to positively transform the region'

US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday praised Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement on the landlocked country and said it has the "potential to positively transform the region and give Pakistan a leading role".

Khalilzad was referring to PM Imran's statement where he cautioned all parties against derailing the peace process. US President Donald Trump’s point man for Afghanistan showed appreciation for PM Imran's "appeal for reduction of violence and policy against promoting internal conflict in other nations".

Greatly appreciate @ImranKhanPTI’s statement yesterday on #Afghanistan. His appeal for reduction of violence and policy against promoting internal conflict in other nations has potential to positively transform the region and give #Pakistan a leading role. https://t.co/VATrqWhTg2

— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) April 26, 2019

The premier on Thursday, while expressing his dismay over the recent upsurge in violence in Afghanistan, made it clear that Pakistan would not be part of any internal conflict in the war-torn neighbouring country anymore.

Pakistan won’t be part of internal Afghan conflict: PM Imran

Imran further noted that the Afghan conflict had brought great suffering for both Afghanistan and Pakistan over the last 40 years and the process of dialogue presented a historic opportunity for peace in the region.

“Pakistan is fully supporting the process, including the next logical step of Intra-Afghan Dialogue wherein Afghans will themselves decide upon the future of their country,” he added.

“In this backdrop, Pakistan is highly dismayed by the surge of violence in Afghanistan from all sides. The so-called offensives are condemnable and will undermine the peace process. It is not right to seek an edge in dialogue through coercion.”