-President says military actions not solution to conflict but political settlement possible via dialogue
-Reaffirms Pakistan’s support to Afghan-led peace process
-Notes Int’l community hails Pakistan’s efforts for peace
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday said there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and a politically negotiated settlement was the only way forward.
The President stated this in a meeting with Chairman, High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Expressing satisfaction at the progress achieved in the Afghan peace process, the President conveyed his best wishes for success of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in his assignment as Chairman of the HCNR.
President Dr. Alvi reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.
President Arif Alvi noted that Pakistan’s contribution to the peace process had been appreciated by the international community, adding that commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations in Doha was a watershed.He stressed that the Afghan leadership must seize this historic opportunity to work together constructively and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.
President Alvi reaffirmed that Pakistan would stand-by the decisions made by the Afghan nation with regard to the future of Afghanistan.
The President emphasized the importance of patience and perseverance in the peace negotiations.
Dr Alvi also underlined the need for remaining vigilant against the spoilers, who do not wish to see the return of peace in the region.He said peace in Afghanistan is essential for Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as the region, to realize their economic potential.
He said Pakistan had opened border crossing-points to facilitate Afghan transit trade despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries should work together to enhance trade, transit and people-to-people exchanges.
President Dr Arif Alvi said that Pakistan has completed a number of development projects in Afghanistan, including hospitals, schools, hostels and road networks. He said Pakistan would be willing to extend more opportunities for Afghan students in higher education.
He also underlined the need for guarding against the ‘spoilers’, who do not wish to see return of peace in the region. President Dr. Arif Alvi further underscored that peace in Afghanistan is essential for Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as the region, to realize their economic potential.He emphasized that Pakistan had opened border crossing-points to facilitate Afghan transit trade despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two countries should work together to enhance trade, transit and people-to-people exchanges, he said. The President underlined that Pakistan has completed a number of development projects in Afghanistan, including hospitals, schools, hostels and road network. Pakistan would be willing to extend more opportunities for Afghan students in higher education, he added. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is on his first official visit to Pakistan as Chairman, High Council for National Reconciliation. During his three-day visit, he held meetings with leadership in Pakistan.
Earlier, Chairman of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan, where the latter expressed his best wishes for the success of the Afghan peace talks. “Abdullah Abdullah’s visit will open new avenues in relationship between the two countries,” said Imran Khan during the meeting.
He further reiterated his call for proceeding with the political solution of the Afghan issue and said that there was no military solution to the issue. “I am happy that the international community acknowledged our stance for peace besides also admitting role of Pakistan in the Afghan peace talks,” he said.
Imran Khan termed the peace accord between United States (US) and Taliban as a major achievement and hoped that now the Afghan leaders would work jointly for a political solution of the issues. While lauding the launch of intra-Afghan talks on September 12, the prime minister hoped that the leadership would take advantage of the historic development.
“Afghan parties had to work for ceasefire and decline in violence,” he said adding that Pakistan would support any agreement reached by the warring Afghan parties. PM Imran Khan said that after success of the peace talks, Pakistan would also extend economic support towards Afghanistan as both countries have the opportunity to expand their bilateral trade manifold. He further said that he awaits an invitation from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to visit the neighbouring country.
