‘Pak-Afghan friendship vital for peace in region’

LAHORE

Punjab University organised a special lecture on "Pakistan Afghanistan Relations: Implications for the Region."

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, Prof Dr Piotr Balcerowicz of University of Warsaw, Poland and Muhammad Mehdi, foreign policy expert and central media coordinator PML-N, were among the keynote speakers. Prof Dr Massarrat Abid, Director, Pakistan Study Centre, welcomed the guests while Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi conducted the proceedings of the event. In her welcome speech, Prof Dr Massarrat Abid said for durable peace in the region, a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs can be helpful and would bring positive results for the region. She stressed the need to understand that Pakistan-Afghanistan's friendship is essential for a durable peace. Pakistan has always seen Afghanistan as a brother Islamic country but due to Indian influence there, she faced difficulties in achieving that goal. Prof Dr Piotr Balcerowicz expressed the views about the internal dynamics of political structure of Afghanistan. “The inability of the central government to get hold of the whole area has diminished the chances of lasting peace in Afghanistan. The factionalism in Taliban after the death of Mullah Umar has led to the creation of ISIS in Afghanistan. It has different lineage than its counterpart in Syria and Iraq. Internal chaos in Afghanistan has made it difficult to negotiate for establishing peace in the region,” the professor said. He also criticised US policy of withdrawal from Afghanistan without constructing lasting structure and writ of civilian government. Muhammad Mehdi in his keynote speech said that Pakistan did not inherit friendly relations with Afghanistan. Past is still haunting the nature of relationships between the two neighboring countries. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keenly desirous to foster bilateral relations with Afghanistan believing that peace and stability in Afghanistan will spillover its positive impacts on Pakistan, he said. Shedding a light on Pakistan and Afghanistan ties, he dispelled an impression that Pakistan government had any role in the elections of Afghanistan. During recent visit to Afghanistan, PM Nawaz Sharif clarified that Pakistan did not have any favorite and it was prerogative to the people of Afghanistan to elect their leadership, he said. Having elaborated diverse impediments incurring damages to Pak-Afghan ties, he threw light on issues regarding water distribution, Afghan migrant repatriation, border management, Taliban leadership, Indian deepening influence Afghan trade, TAPI and CPEC had taken center stage in current political and security scenario.