Will not let effects reach Pakistan if Afghanistan descends into war: Fawad

Information minister says govt has keen eye on changing situation; wants consenus-based govt in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD:

Reiterating Pakistan's wish for a consensus-based government in Kabul, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry however underscored on Monday that Pakistan will not allow the effects of war in Afghanistan reach Pakistan if peace efforts did not work out.

The minister, in a tweet, stated that Pakistan had a keen eye on the changing situation in Afghanistan.

"We are keenly observing the changing situation in Afghanistan," the minister said on Twitter.

"Efforts are afoot to move forward through a peaceful and consensus-based government in Afghanistan," he added.

افغانستان میں بدلتی صورتحال پر گہری نظر ہے، پوری کوشش ہے کابل میں ایک پر امن اور سب کی رائے پر مبنی نظام حکومت کے ذریعے آگے بڑھا جائے لیکن اگر ایسا نہ ہوا تو بھی ہاکستان کے اندر اس کے اثرات نہیں آنے دیں گے، ہماری افغان پالیسی پاکستان کے مفاد پر ہے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 12, 2021

The minister maintained that, "But even if that doesn't happen, we won't let the effects reach Pakistan."

Read ‘Pakistan a reliable partner for Afghan peace’, Islamabad tells Washington

He added that that Pakistan's Afghan policy was based on Pakistan's own interests

Quoting Prime Minister Imran Khan, he added that the premier has stated that Pakistan will be a "part of peace but not war".

Fawad added that there was no interference from Pakistan in Afghanistan's affairs and there must not be any interference from the latter in Pakistan's affairs as well.

وزیر اعظم عمران خان کہ چکے ہیں کہ امن میں حصہ دار ہوں گے لیکن جنگ میں نہیں، پاکستان کی زمین افغانستان کے خلاف استعمال نہیں ہو رہی اور امید ہے کہ افغانستان کی سرزمین پاکستان کے خلاف استعمال نہیں ہوگی، سیاسی پارلیمانی قیادت عدم مداخلت کے اصول پر متفق ہے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) July 12, 2021

On June 27, Fawad said the government would never allow anyone to use Pakistani territory against Afghanistan, stressing that Islamabad wanted to see a stable government in Kabul.

“Peace inside Afghanistan is very important for Pakistan,” he said in a video message.

The minister talked about Pakistan-US relations especially in the context of the prevailing situation in Afghanistan.

He further said that the PM had clearly stated his views regarding relations with the US, China, and Afghanistan and expressed his desire for the stability of Afghanistan, vowing to help Kabul in achieving peace.