Ashraf Ghani seeks Pakistani Pashtun leaders’ assistance

Meets leaders from ANP, PkMAP, QWP at Presidential Palace in Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s President Dr Ashraf Ghani has sought the help of senior Pakistani Pashtun leaders to bring about peace and end insecurity in the region, the Presidential Palace in Kabul said on Friday.

He had invited political leaders from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to discuss their role in bringing about peace in Afghanistan and the region.



The Pakistani leaders met Ghani late Thursday, the second day of their visit, the statement issued by the Presidential Palace said. They will also attend a gathering today (Saturday) to pay homage to the late Pashtun leader Afzal Khan Lala, who died in Swat this month. They are also expected to hold talks with former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and Afghan parliamentarians during the visit.

The visitors from Pakistan include Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan and central leader Afrasiab Khattak, Afzal Khan Lala’s son Dr Salim Khan, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Sherpao. The delegation also includes ex-governor of K-P Shaukatullah Khan and former ambassador Ayaz Wazir.

"This [Afghanistan] is your own home and you are always welcome here,” Ghani was quoted as telling the Pakistani leaders in the statement. “All Afghans are proud and happy that you have come to your own home with the messages of peace. We share pain and happiness," he said.



The Afghan president said frequent visits further strengthen relations that lead to peace and security in the region. Recalling the services of Pashtun leaders like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, he said it was the visiting leaders’ responsibility and duty to accomplish the former’s wishes.

Ghani also condoled the demise of Afzal Khan Lala.

Speaking on behalf of the Pakistani delegation, Sherpao said, "Afghanistan is a sovereign country and we have always wished peace and security in Afghanistan. We have brought the message of sympathies of the people of Pakistan for you.”

Talking to The Express Tribune ahead of the visit, Khattak had said the Pakistani leaders were invited by Ghani as part of his quest to press ahead consultations. “The Afghan president wants to seek our opinion for improvement in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and to promote peace in the region,” he said.

It is the second visit by top Pashtun leaders to Kabul this year. They last visited in January.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2015.