NSA set to visit Afghanistan to assess humanitarian situation

Dr Yusuf is likely to discuss fencing issues and TTP talks with senior Taliban leaders

ISLAMABAD:

In what would be the second high-level visit from Pakistan since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan last year, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf will be visiting Kabul this week to assess the humanitarian situation in the country.

Official sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that a high-powered delegation led by the NSA would undertake a two-day trip to the Afghan capital on Tuesday on directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The delegation has been tasked to assess the on-ground situation and to evaluate the requirements of the locals.

Dr Yusuf will meet senior Taliban leaders and would convey Prime Minister Imran’s message of support for Afghanistan.

This visit comes at a time when nearly 23 million Afghans are at the risk of food scarcity. The severity of the situation can be gauged by the fact that the United Nations (UN) recently launched the biggest-ever appeal for any country in history, seeking $5 billion for Afghanistan in 2022.

The UN warned that if the people of Afghanistan are not aided immediately, $10 billion would be required by next year to mitigate the looming humanitarian crisis.

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Pakistan, on its part, is offering all possible assistance to Afghanistan, including the provision of wheat and other essential goods. Islamabad is also keen to help Afghanistan revive its fragile economy.

During a recent inter-ministerial meeting on Afghanistan, PM Imran directed the concerned authorities to explore ways for exporting skilled and trained manpower to the neighbouring country.

Sources said that the NSA would discuss these issues with the interim government to get to know of its specific demands.

Other issues that are likely to be discussed include the controversy surrounding fencing along the Pak-Afghan border. There have been certain incidents in recent weeks where Taliban soldiers tried to remove the fence erected by Pakistan to ensure security through regulation of public movement.

While Pakistan tried to downplay the incidents as a localised problem, certain Afghan leaders are still giving statements against the fencing. Pakistan has made it clear that there will not be any compromises on the fencing and the existing border mechanism will stay in place.

Furthermore, another issue that may create a hiccup in close ties between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban is the issue of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Afghan Taliban are still trying to revive talks between the two sides while Pakistan is conducting operations against the banned group.

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Sources said that NSA will reiterate Pakistan’s stance that TTP and other terrorist outfits must not be allowed to operate from Afghan territory.

Dr Yusuf is the second-high ranking official to visit the country since the Taliban takeover. In October last year, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Kabul along with then-director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt General Faiz Hameed.

It is worth mentioning here that while Pakistan has not officially recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan, it is actively urging the international community to maintain engagement with Kabul in light of the hovering humanitarian crisis.