Ties of Pukhtuns: We must repair Af-Pak trust deficit, says Aftab Sherpao

Gathering held in Sherpao village for Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao’s death anniversary.

CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Tuesday urged the federal government to improve bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and to repair the trust deficit between the neighbouring countries.

The QWP chief was addressing a gathering held at Sherpao village in Charsadda to observe the death anniversary of Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao.

“I have visited Kabul six times last year with the aim to improve ties between the two countries,” he told the massive gathering. “The role of Pukhtuns is key to bringing peace in the region, which is why they cannot be ignored.”



Sherpao said his party wanted to see a peaceful and developed Afghanistan and would lend support to the new leadership after presidential polls take place this year.

Regarding ongoing negotiations between the government and the Taliban, the QWP chief said the responsibility primarily rested on the government to restore peace in the country. “It is high time the government takes decisions to bring stability,” he added.

The whole country faces terrorism and the centre should abstain from confining the problem only to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa or the tribal belt, claimed Sherpao. “The fire of terrorism will engulf the entire country if a holistic approach is not adopted,” he warned.

Former bedfellows

Sherpao urged polio campaign donors to monitor the use of funds meant for the eradication of polio in the province. He accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government of misusing funds designated for vaccination campaigns.

He also termed recent initiatives of the provincial government to curb the crippling disease “politically motivated”.

Sherpao also paid glowing tributes to Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao for his contribution to the cause of democracy and rule of law. He said the martyred leader sacrificed his life for a noble cause and workers of QWP will take his mission forward.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2014.