Efforts afoot to bring Afghan sides to talks: Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday Pakistan wished to engage senior Afghan leaders to sit together and lead their country towards durable peace, stressing that a negotiated settlement was the best option for the war-battered nation.

Talking to the media after chairing a meeting of the District Coordination Committee here, he said that he had invited Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar to visit Pakistan, while efforts were afoot to contact senior leadership of the Taliban and leaders from the northern areas of Afghanistan.

“Lasting peace in Afghanistan is possible only through a negotiated settlement,” Qureshi maintained. “Afghans themselves will have to resolve the issues, which are impeding the peace process in their country,” he said. “Pakistan is ready to cooperate for facilitation,” he added.

“The peace in Afghanistan will help improve regional connectivity which will ultimately lead to boost diplomatic outreach and increase trade activities, especially to the Central Asian States (CAS) and Afghanistan,” the foreign minister said.

Responding to a question, Qureshi stated that he held detailed discussion with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to improve coordination and cooperation for peace in Afghanistan. He added that Pakistan and US shared fundamental convergence, which aimed at peaceful settlement in Afghanistan.

When asked about the status of the relations with the US after Pakistan’s refusal to provide airbases, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that during his recent discussion with Blinken, both sides reiterated constructive bilateral engagement.

“Pakistan and the US have same objective – to maintain peace in Afghanistan,” the foreign minister said. “There is no military solution in Afghanistan and peace is possible only through talks,” he said. “Also, America is a big market for Pakistan and Pakistan wants to strengthen its economic ties with US.”

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He told the reporters that he had briefed the relevant parliamentary committees on the situation in Afghanistan and the future challenges after the pull-out of US forces. Besides, he added, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief had also given a presentation to the lawmakers in this regard.

Without elaborating, the foreign minister revealed that another such briefing would be held soon. “The government wants to build a national strategy with consensus,” he said.

Responding to another question about influx of Afghan refugees in case a civil war broke out in the neighbouring country, Qureshi stated that Pakistan had shared its concerns with the UN agency for refugees. He, however, added that Pakistan would formulate its strategy in case of arrival of refugees.

“[Pakistan] has learned many things from its past experience. Pakistan will also review Iran’s model to handle the refugee situation. Insurgents may also sneak into the country in the guise of refugees, so we will formulate the policy as per the situation,” he stated.

Qureshi said that China could play an important role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan as it has resources and modern technology, adding that Afghanistan would have the role in the promotion of trade activities in the region.

About the upcoming elections in Azad Kashmir, Qureshi observed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would be popular party in Azad Kashmir. “Prime Minister Imran Khan will address three public meetings in Azad Kashmir and will present his point of view in-depth before the people.”

Criticising the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maryam Nawaz should not harm national interests. “Opposition should criticise the government’s policies instead of issuing baseless statements about Kashmir.”

“Elections in Azad Kashmir will be held under a PML-N government there, so how it would be possible for PTI to rig elections. The opposition leaders should demonstrate political maturity,” he said. “The opposition should criticise government but at the same time it should have courage to accept criticism.”

Referring to an incident in which as political worker from minority was tortured by police in Tharparkar, he said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Human Rights, should hold the police officer concerned accountable for torturing a political worker.