PM’s comment on Afghanistan reported out of context: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Wednesday clarified that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s comments on Afghanistan related to an interim Afghan government were reported out of context in the media, leading to unwarranted reaction from various quarters.

“The prime minister was referring to Pakistan’s model where elections are held under an interim government. The comments should not be misinterpreted to imply interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs,” clarified the Foreign Office.

Remarks of the prime minister were made public on Monday night and carried in the print media on Tuesday, while the government waited till Wednesday to give a clarification of Imran Khan’s comments. Ashraf Ghani’s tenure ends in May, and he has not given any indication of stepping down before next presidential elections in September. Like India, Afghan constitution also does not have requirement of an Interim government. Earlier, while speaking to the media here, Imran Khan, who has worked relentlessly for peace and reconciliation efforts inside Afghanistan, had said, “The Afghan government was a hurdle in the peace process (as it is) insisting that Taliban should talk to it. The Afghan peace process can succeed only if there is a neutral interim government that can hold free and transparent elections participated in by all stakeholders.”

The Foreign Office said it was important to remember that the prime minister understands the plight of brave people of Afghanistan, who have a right to live in peace after four decades of violence and war.

Pakistan in its defence said it has no other interest in Afghanistan but to promote peace through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led political process.

“The prime minister has taken personal interest in facilitating the ongoing political reconciliation process and the same must not be misconstrued to undermine the sincere efforts of Pakistan or to create misunderstandings at this crucial stage of the process,” the statement from the Foreign Office added.

While Pakistan tried to take a step back and bring down temperatures, President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday immediately recalled Afghan Ambassador Atif Mashal to Kabul for consultations.

“I'll be travelling to Kabul tomorrow as I have been called back by my government for consultation & in protest to the remarks by PM of Pakistan in relation to formation of a new interim government which is a clear attempt of interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan,” Mashal tweeted on Tuesday.

In just over a month, this is the third time that Kabul has protested about remarks coming from Islamabad.

Kabul summoned Pakistan’s deputy Ambassador saying Imran Khan’s comments were ‘irresponsible’ as these are an obvious example of Pakistan’s interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan.

The United States, which has publicly acknowledged Pakistan’s assistance to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table in several rounds of talks in Doha, also criticised the remarks. US Special Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalizad in a tweet said, while Pakistan has made constructive contributions on the Afghan peace process, PM Khan's comments did not. “The future of Afghanistan is for Afghans and only Afghans, to decide. The role of the international community is to encourage Afghans to come together so they can do so,” he stated.

Using cricket terminology to criticise Imran Khan, the US Ambassador John R Bass in Kabul told Imran Khan, “Some aspects of cricket apply well in diplomacy, some do not. It is important to resist temptation to ball-tamper with Afghanistan’s peace process and its internal affairs.”

Meanwhile, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who recently attended a meeting with the Taliban, supported the Kabul government, and tweeted, “Prime Minister Imran Khan’s repeated comments about Afghanistan’s future gov’t is blatant interference in our country's internal affairs. I recommend to the gov’t of Pak & others to commit to friendly relations with AFG on principles of mutual respect to sovereignty & dignified relationship.”

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said that Afghanistan is not allowing any country to talk about its fate or future. He added that the remarks about Afghanistan’s future that were expressed by Pakistan’s prime minister are not acceptable for any Afghan citizen or party. “Pakistan must have reached to the conclusion that Afghan citizens will decide about their future,” Abdullah said.

Abdullah said that the Taliban are still the main hurdle in peace process. He said that peace could be ensured only when the government and people of Afghanistan reach agreement with the Taliban.