ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have a historic opportunity to reset long-fraught ties following the election of democratic governments in both countries, the United States' top diplomat in Islamabad said Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of newly-elected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's first official visit to Islamabad this weekend, Richard Olson praised confidence building measures by both sides, including Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
"I think there is quite genuinely a basis for a new relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Both sides are aware of this historical moment and making efforts to seize it," he said in a speech at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad.
"Also I would say the actions of the Pakistan Army in clearing the North Waziristan agency is a very important step in all of this," he added, referring to the military offensive which began in June.
Pakistan was one of three countries to recognise the hardline Taliban regime that ruled Kabul from 1996 until 2001 when it was deposed by a US-led international military coalition.
The government of former Afghan president Hamid Karzai routinely accused Pakistan of continuing to aid the Taliban in their insurgency in order to destabilise his country, a charge Islamabad denies.
Tensions are also often stoked by cross-border shelling, but Olson praised Pakistan's recent "restraint" and its efforts to secure the border during the Afghan elections.
In an interview with AFP in April, Ghani said rapprochement with Pakistan -- along the lines of France and Germany after World War II -- would be key to ending instability in his conflict-torn nation.
Ghani was sworn into office in September while his main rival Abdullah Abdullah became the country's CEO, ending a protracted election process marred by fraud allegations.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif won power in last year's general elections that marked the country's first ever democratic transition, but has since seen his mandate challenged by opposition groups who allege vote rigging.
A protest movement started by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf outside Parliament that began in August triggered fears the military could intervene as it has in the past, a move Olson said the US would not back.
"We're supporters of the rule of law, democracy and the constitution and oppose any kind of extra-constitutional action," he said.
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The United States have always maintained that Pakistan is an important country of the region and that it plays an important part in Afghanistan’s stability because of cultural and ethnic ties. No one can deny that the U.S. and Pakistan relations also have a long history. It has its ups and downs but, just like Ambassador Olson said, a strong relationship between the two countries is of great importance for regional stability and in achieving a prosperous future for its citizens. According to the government of Pakistan statistics, United States is their fourth largest trade partner. Apart from that, through USAID, we also support many projects directly benefiting the common citizens in the fields of education, agriculture, medicine and the power sector. The United States believes that with stability comes prosperity and unless we all work for a stable region, prosperity will remain a distant dream.
Abdul Quddus DET - U.S. Central Command www.facebook.com/centcomurdu
@Candid1, I think the tide turned against Pakistan. The situation is much more in favour of Afghanistan. All these visits in the last weeks by Pakistani officials is a evidence that Pakistan needs the cooperation of Afghanistan then vice versa. It is not about recognition of Durand Line that would never happen, but Pakistan is worried and they are no more in control of the game. Pakistan is unable to manage its security challenges and you see on daily/weekly basis the same thing happening such as: 1. TTP violence 2. Karachi Linguistic/ethnic violence 3. Targeted killings of minorities 4. Violence from Baluchistan independence movement 5. Shia V Sunni or sectarian violence 6. LET, LEJ etc 7. Aharul Hind
To add on to that just wait for the launch of ISIS and please do not deny that militants groups from Uzbakistan, China and Chechnya are also present. So mate, Afghanistan no longer wants Pakistan cooperation, but it is rather the other way around.
@Candid1: .....it is not necessary in order to emulate Franco-German model one has to go through all these wars....one does not have to re-invent the wheel every time.
Anyone is open to take the best of Franco-German model & tailored according to their region needs.
regards,
@Candid1,, It is not in the power of Ghani to recognize the Durand Line. And why would you expect Afghans to hand over their Foreign Policy to be controlled by you. Why not fight Indian face to face on Pak Indian border. Why you want to fight Indian in Afghanistan? They are governing themselves but the schools they built are blown out by IED experts. During last year Afghan intelligence NDS delivered a number of presentation to Chinese on the training grounds of terrorists. Now you please do not lecture Afghans not to cooperate with Chinese on terrorism.
Ghani's comparison of Pak-Afghan situation to the Franco-German post war relationship is totally withjout meirt. Firstly, Pakistan and Afghanistan did not go to war like Germany and France did. Secondly, neither Germany nor France helped liberate the other from foreign occupation, as Pakistan helped liberate Afghanistan from Soviet occupation. Thirdly, Neither Germany nor France hosted millions of each others' refugees for decades at the cost of their own country and society, as Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for more than 30 years with devastating consequences for itself.
All these pointless comments from Ghani should alert Pakistan not to expect any sincerity from Afghanistan. They are unable to govern themselves, but continue to blame Pakistan for all their self-made problems. If Afghanistan really wanted to have good relationship with Pakistan, they would accept the border between the countries, take back their millions of refugees with gratitude, and stop acting as Indian agents against Pakistan.