Umar warns against scapegoating Pakistan for Afghan failure

Federal Minister Asad Umar on Friday warned that another mistake will be made if Pakistan is blamed for the 'strategic blunders' in Afghanistan by 'those in the US' pushing for a change in policy stance.

The Taliban claimed to have captured two of Afghanistan's biggest cities in an advance that has raised fears of the collapse of the US-backed government.

The capture of Kandahar and Herat - the country's second and third largest cities - would represent the Taliban's two most significant victories since they began a broad offensive in May as US-led foreign forces withdrew under a deal struck between the militants and the United States last year.

"The biggest superpower in the world invades one of the poorest nations on earth. Keeps it occupied for 20 years. Decides to cut losses & leave abruptly. Even before it's departure sees the imposed structure start to melt. Must be very frustrating. You feel u need a scapegoat," Umar said on Twitter.

The minister further said that Pakistan continues to be an agent of stability in the region and urged all stakeholders to work together for peace in the war-torn country.

Umar said it was time to 'stop listening to the few corrupt leaders' in the Afghan government and added that it was the leadership's inability to carry the Afghan nation that has made them 'weak and isolated'

"Global & regional players should not sacrifice the interest of the Afghan nation for these few corrupt leaders."

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The statement comes two days after Prime Minister Imran Khan accused the United States of seeing his country as useful only in the context of the "mess" it is leaving behind in Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting.

On Wednesday, the premier said Washington had been pressing Pakistan to use its influence over the Taliban to broker an elusive peace deal as negotiations between the insurgents and Afghan government have stalled, and violence in Afghanistan has escalated sharply.

"Pakistan is just considered only to be useful in the context of somehow settling this mess which has been left behind after 20 years of trying to find a military solution when there was not one," PM Imran told foreign journalists at his home in Islamabad.

The United States will pull out its military by Aug 31, two decades after toppling the Taliban government in 2001. But, as the United States leaves, the Taliban today controls more territory than at any point since then.