Pakistan's efforts for inclusive govt in Afghanistan must be supported: Fawad

Our economy can not bear the burden of more refugees, the information minister says

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary said on Monday that Pakistan was working with regional and international powers for an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan's efforts for an inclusive government in Afghanistan must be supported," the minister said in an interview with TRT World.

The information minister further said that forming a government in Afghanistan was the responsibility of the Afghan people but the regional powers would also have to stabilize the country.

"Pakistan and Turkey are important players in this issue. Both the countries are actually partners in peace as far as Afghanistan is concerned," he said.

Fawad also warned that if the world repeated the same mistake of abandoning Afghanistan, it would create a hub of extremist organizations right at the border of Pakistan, which would be 'hugely worrisome for us'.

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"When the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, we had to deal with the problems left behind and now when the US and NATO forces are leaving Afghanistan we are again in a quagmire," he stated.

The information minister added said if Afghanistan did not achieve stability, millions of Afghans would start moving towards Pakistan.

"Pakistan is already hosting 3.5 million Afghan refugees and our economy can not bear the burden of more refugees," he stressed.

Responding to a question, the information minister said at the moment, there was no refugee crisis.

"Pakistan has evacuated foreign nationals from Kabul. PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) evacuated more than 2,000 people," he said.

He further added that the situation at Pakistan's borders was 'normal' as of now but if the instability continued in Afghanistan, then the federal government would have a comprehensive plan to deal with refugees.

"We do not want Afghan migrants to get into Pakistan but we would make arrangements for them at the border," he added.