Pakistan cautions Afghan president against 'interfering' in internal matters
Caution comes soon after President Ashraf Ghani voiced concerns over arrest of PTM chief on sedition charges
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Pakistan has cautioned Afghan President Ashraf Ghani against interfering in its "internal matters" of the country after he expressed concerns over the arrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen.
“We have noted with serious concern the recent tweets by President Ashraf Ghani, which are a clear interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs and hence, unwarranted,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office following Ghani’s remarks on Monday.
The PTM leader was arrested by the Peshawar police earlier in the day on sedition charges and sent on a 14-day judicial remand.
Hours after his arrest, the Afghan president on his official Twitter handle expressed concerns saying: “I am troubled by the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen and his colleagues. I fully echo the concerns raised by [the] Amnesty International in this regard and hope for their immediate release.”
PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen sent on 14-day judicial remand
“While our region is suffering from atrocities caused by violent extremism and terrorism… governments in the region must support and encourage peaceful civilian movements for justice and must avoid any means of force and violence against these movements,” he wrote on another tweet.
The president also urged that the difference with "such peaceful" movements should be dealt through peaceful means.
In the response, the FO statement further said such statements are not helpful for the promotion of cordial relations between the two neighbouring countries.
"Pakistan wishes to maintain close and cordial relations with Afghanistan based on the principles of non-intervention and non-interference," the communique said.
It also urged the government in Kabul to work together for the common objective of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
“We have noted with serious concern the recent tweets by President Ashraf Ghani, which are a clear interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs and hence, unwarranted,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office following Ghani’s remarks on Monday.
The PTM leader was arrested by the Peshawar police earlier in the day on sedition charges and sent on a 14-day judicial remand.
Hours after his arrest, the Afghan president on his official Twitter handle expressed concerns saying: “I am troubled by the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen and his colleagues. I fully echo the concerns raised by [the] Amnesty International in this regard and hope for their immediate release.”
PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen sent on 14-day judicial remand
“While our region is suffering from atrocities caused by violent extremism and terrorism… governments in the region must support and encourage peaceful civilian movements for justice and must avoid any means of force and violence against these movements,” he wrote on another tweet.
The president also urged that the difference with "such peaceful" movements should be dealt through peaceful means.
In the response, the FO statement further said such statements are not helpful for the promotion of cordial relations between the two neighbouring countries.
"Pakistan wishes to maintain close and cordial relations with Afghanistan based on the principles of non-intervention and non-interference," the communique said.
It also urged the government in Kabul to work together for the common objective of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.