Sherpao calls for efforts to remove Islamabad-Kabul trust deficit

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) head Aftab Sherpao said on Sunday that the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should jointly work to remove hurdles and doubts in the way of maintaining brotherly relations.

Addressing the 25 anniversary of the Pashto magazine Lekwal here, he said it was responsibility of the government and people to remove doubts between Islamabad and Kabul in a bid to promote friendly relations.

Prominent intellectuals, writers, poets, and members from civil society from various parts of the province and Afghanistan attended the function. Afghan Consul General Mohammad Moeen Marastial was prominent among the guests.

The QWP chief said the intellectuals and writers should also play their role and they should be given opportunities to meet each other. He said his party was making efforts to bring the people of both the countries closer.

Aftab Sherpao added that the restoration of peace in the region would guarantee a good future for the coming generation. He urged Islamabad and Kabul to strengthen trade activities and suggested the establishment of economic zones in Jalalabad city in Afghanistan to boost trade.

The QWP chief observed that Pakistan and Afghanistan remained victim of terrorism and extremism since long. “It is high time to revitalise and reestablish cordial and friendly relations with each other to bring long-lasting peace and economic prosperity in the region,” he stressed. He said that unity among the Pakhtuns was need of the hour for the uplift and prosperity in the region.

Aftab Sherpao said the QWP had been raising voice for the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that KP-Fata merger was important for the unity of Pakhtuns.

Aftab Sherpao further said that Pakhtuns rendered sacrifices for the cause of Pakistan but they had not been given their due rights. He added it was the prime objective of the QWP to work for the welfare of Pakhtuns and raise voice for their cause.

The QWP said that any stopgap arrangement short of Fata-KP merger would not solve the problems facing the tribal people. He said the merger would help redress the grievances of the tribal people. He contended that the Fata-KP merger would help strengthen the bonds of unity among the Pakhtuns and it would usher in a new era of progression and development in the region.

Coming down hard on the federal government, he said that the smaller federating units were denied their financial resources. He said that federal government was not taking interest in addressing the problems being faced by the residents of the KP. “This indifferent attitude will deepen mistrust among the federating units, which is not in favour of the country,” he cautioned.

Afghan Consul General Moeen Marastial, QWP leader Hashim Babar, senior writers Salim Raz, Saadullah Jan Barq, Noorul Bashar Naveed, Akbar Hoti, Nasrullah Khan Wazir, Pashto Academy Director, Laiq Zada Laiq, regional director, Radio Pakistan and others eulogised the role and services of Pashto magazine.