(Islamabad) Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday had wide ranging
talks with Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani to review efforts during the
past two years to promote shared objectives of strengthening
Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations and achieving lasting peace and
stability in Afghanistan. He held talks with the Afghan president during his
maiden visit to the neighboring country on Thursday. The premier paid the
day-long visit to Kabul at the invitation of President Ashraf Ghani. The prime
minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to a peaceful, stable, united,
democratic, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. He reiterated his
long-standing view that there was no military solution to the conflict in
Afghanistan and that a negotiated political settlement was the only way forward
for enduring peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. Imran Khan called
on all sides for taking necessary measures for reduction in violence leading to
ceasefire to protect Afghan lives. Underscoring the importance of an inclusive;
broad-based and comprehensive political settlement, the Prime minister
underlined that Pakistan will respect the decisions made by Afghans in the
peace process. He also cautioned against those who could spoil the peace
efforts. Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence Lt Gen Faiz Hameed
is also included in the delagation. After the meeting, Imran Khan held a press
conference alongside the Ashraf Ghani. Imran Khan said that Pakistan will do
its utmost to end violence and establish peace in Afghanistan. ‘The people and
government of Pakistan have only one concern, and that is to establish peace in
Afghanistan because the people of the country have suffered for four decades.’
He said that even though Pakistan played its role in getting the Taliban to
talk to the Americans as well as engage them in the intra Afghan dialogue; the
level of violence has been on a rise in the country after Doha talks which is a
matter of grave concern. Imran Khan assured the Afghanistan government that
Pakistan is ready to help the country in every possible way to attain peace. ‘We
will be helping you more than your expectations;’ he said. Thanking the Afghan
government for inviting him, Imran Khan said that he had been planning to visit
Afghanistan for at least the past 50 years. ‘I am pleased that you have invited
me to this historic city of Kabul;’ the PM said. ‘We have historical links with
your country.’ President Ashraf Ghani also stressed that the people of Afghanistan
want nothing but peace. ‘A comprehensive political settlement for enduring
peace within the framework of our values and constitution in the Islamic
Republic (of Afghanistan) is the way to the future;’ he said. "All of us
need to understand that resorting to violence is not the answer.’
President Ghani also said that he would be honoured to visit
Pakistan. During the prime minister’s visit, Pakistan and Afghanistan also
issued a document titled “Shared Vision between Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
and Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Support Peace and Stability in Both
Countries and the Wider Region.; The Shared Vision is aimed at advancing a
forward-looking cooperative partnership between the two countries for
political, economic and people-to-people exchanges.
The two leaders agreed to constitute committees to pursue security
and peace related matters. The prime minister expressed satisfaction at
increasing high level leadership exchanges imparting a steady momentum to
bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. In this regard; he appreciated that
the recent visit of Advisor on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood to
Kabul from 16-18 November led to important breakthroughs for commencement of
negotiations on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA); progress in revision of
APTTA, Customs Assistance Agreement, and understanding to have memorandum of
understanding (MoU) for cooperation between two central banks. The two leaders
also agreed to expedite infrastructure and energy connectivity projects. They
also discussed development of new rail-road projects between Pakistan and
Afghanistan. The prime minister extended an invitation to President Ashraf
Ghani to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience. The Shared Vision document
has outlined several steps that both countries propose to take in the coming
months, but details of different steps have not been shared. There was
realisation that that neither country could achieve lasting peace and stability
without peace and stability in the other. Lasting peace implies peace-making
which is wholly inclusive, encompasses the whole nation, and respects a
democratic constitutional order in which rights of women and men remain
inalienable and protected. By December 15, 2020; both sides would re-energise
joint intelligence services-led work on analysing, mapping and cooperating
against enemies of peace and those undermining the peace process. The “enemies”
and others have not been identified in the document. This is a rare opportunity
and probably for the first time that Afghan and Pakistan Intelligence agencies
will be working side by side; though the document does not identify the enemies
of peace and those undermining the peace process. The document specifically
says; ‘Neither country's territory should be used for malicious purposes
against the other's territory; and that both countries should work together to
identify and tackle enemies of peace; irreconcilables and those who undermine
the peace process.’ By January 01, 2021; both countries would issue a joint
proposal to further regional connectivity; in a way which strengthens both
Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also the wider region. As the Afghan Peace
Process continues with Pakistan playing a lead role in bringing the Afghan
Taliban to the negotiating table, the document states, “The Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan will share with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan summary of the key
issues that are being discussed during the Afghanistan peace process.’ Both
countries will frame joint proposals for Afghan refugees return, elevating and
intensifying treatment of this issue; to the point where credible and
progressive action can start to be taken. Both sides agreed to keep this shared
vision; its commitments; and previous commitments under regular review; to
ensure measurable, clear and irreversible steps towards furthering closer and
more productive relations between their two countries. ‘Both sides agree that
timely progress to meet this vision would require close coordination, a
structured dialogue; and willingness to take difficult and courageous
decisions’’ said the document.
They welcomed the start of Afghanistan peace process in Doha on
September 12; 2020 and hoped that the talks will bring lasting peace and tranquility
in Afghanistan. Talks have provided a unique opportunity to Afghans to decide
their future without interference. The document seeks expeditious resolution of
the refugee situation, i.e. the safe, time-bound and dignified return of
refugees, would help the two countries address the humanitarian and
socio-economic challenges associated with population displacement. Refugee
returns would require resourcing; including donor support from the widest and
the most inclusive possible donor community. Earlier; Imran Khan was accorded a
warm welcome upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace on his first official
visit to the neighboring country; Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi held a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Hanif Atmar in
Kabul and discussed bilateral relations, Afghan peace process and regional
peace and security situation.
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