Peace in Afghanistan in Pakistan’s ‘national interest:’ Gen Qamar

Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa told a visiting Afghan delegation on Tuesday that it was in Pakistan’s national interest to have peace in the neighbouring country, as the second and most crucial phase of the peace process kicked off in Doha.

“Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan,” the army chief said during his meeting with Mohammad Karim Khalili, the head of Hizb-e-Wahadat Islami Afghanistan.

Khalili is currently on a three-day visit to Pakistan as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two countries aimed at reducing trust deficit.

The army chief further said “a stable and prosperous Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours is in Pakistan’s national interest.”

The military’s media wing said in a statement that matters of mutual interest, peace and stability in the region, connectivity and current developments in the Afghan peace process were discussed.

The visiting dignitary, as per the ISPR statement, appreciated the positive role played by Pakistan and the vision of the army chief on the future of Pak-Afghan relations.

Also Read: Pakistan hails intra-Afghan dialogue resumption

In recent months, there has been a flurry of high-level visits from both sides. While Prime Minister Imran Khan recently undertook a maiden visit to Kabul, the head of Afghan High Peace council Dr Abdullah Abdullah and the leader of Hizb-e-Islami Gulbadin Hekmatyar also travelled to Islamabad.

Officials said the visits were part of efforts by the two sides to improve ties considered key for any Afghan peace deal. The two countries have issues of trust deficit amplified by the allegations from both sides.

But as the peace process moves further, there is also improvement in the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Khalili also held talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to exchange views on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and progress in the Afghan peace process.

According to the Foreign Office handout, the minister reiterated Pakistan’s consistent support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. He underscored that after the Afghans, Pakistan was the country most desirous of peace in Afghanistan.

Qureshi underlined that the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan were linked through immutable bonds of history, faith, culture and traditions. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Afghanistan in all fields.

The foreign minister highlighted the various steps taken by Pakistan to strengthen bilateral and transit trade and introduction of revised visa policy to facilitate Afghan nationals.

Qureshi said Pakistan had always emphasised that there was no military solution of the Afghan conflict and that a negotiated political settlement was the only way forward. He stressed the importance of an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political solution through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

Highlighting Pakistan’s positive contribution towards various milestones achieved so far, the foreign minister reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to facilitate the Afghan peace process. He stressed that the Afghan leadership should seize this historic opportunity to establish lasting peace in Afghanistan through the Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

The minister reiterated Pakistan’s call on all sides to take measures for reduction in violence leading to ceasefire. He also cautioned against the role of ‘spoilers’ within and outside Afghanistan, who did not wish to see return of peace in Afghanistan and the region.

Qureshi further expressed the hope that the return of peace and stability in Afghanistan would provide a strong impetus to economic development, regional integration, and connectivity, benefitting Afghanistan and the region. Foreign Minister Qureshi also emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to safe and dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.

Ustad Karim Khalili thanked Pakistan for consistent support to Afghanistan, particularly in the peace process and for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the last many decades. He appreciated the various steps taken by Pakistan to strengthen trade between the two countries and facilitate Afghan nationals through revised visa policy.

Separately, the Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan leader, called on Prime Minster Imran Khan. The exchange of views covered progress in the Afghan peace process and bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The prime minister conveyed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Afghanistan, including trade and economic ties and people-to-people linkages.

The prime minister underscored his longstanding position that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a negotiated political settlement was the only way forward.

Noting that the Afghan people had suffered gravely due to prolonged conflict in the country, the prime minister stressed that after the Afghan people, Pakistan was most desirous of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Reiterating Pakistan’s consistent support to the Afghan peace process, the Prime Minister underscored that the Intra-Afghan Negotiations process must be pursued with perseverance and patience for an inclusive and broad-based solution.

The prime minister recalled his recent interaction with Afghan leaders and underlined that Pakistan’s message to all sides was to work together for a peaceful solution. The Prime Minister particularly underscored the importance of reduction of violence leading to ceasefire.

The prime minister added that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan will open up new vistas of cooperation in trade and regional connectivity.

He also assured the Afghan delegation of Pakistan’s continued support for human resource development through scholarships and socio-economic development projects in Afghanistan.