Arab country facilitated Nawaz-Mohib London meeting: source

LONDON: A Middle Eastern Islamic country arranged former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib, according to a trusted source.

The News has learnt from the credible source that a diplomat from the Middle Eastern Arab country spoke to Nawaz Sharif and floated the idea of meeting the Afghan NSA during his London visit to meet the UK’s political and military leadership besides meeting with politicians and ambassadors from several countries.

After pictures of the meeting were released to the media by the Afghan NSA and PML-N, ministers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) attacked Nawaz Sharif for holding talks with Mohib. It’s understood that Afghan NSA was accompanied in all meetings by the State Minister for Peace Sayed Sadat Naderi and the Afghan Ambassador to London. The source said that the meeting was arranged prior to the Afghan delegation’s arrival in the UK. The Arab country that facilitated the meeting is considered close to Pakistan and has enjoyed historically good relations with all the governments. The News sent questions to Nawaz Sharif’s office in London for his viewpoint on the meeting, but no comment was offered.

However, a family source said that several months ago an Afghan government representative got in touch on behalf of President Ashraf Ghani to convey regards to Nawaz Sharif and to ask about his well being. He rejected the criticism at the meeting and said that the reaction by the PTI govt showed how obsessed it was with Nawaz Sharif. He said, “During our meeting both sides focused on the historic relations between the two countries which are tied through history, culture and religion and have lived side by side.

“There is no doubt that PM Imran Khan’s incompetent govt has caused irreparable damage to Pakistan, be it foreign policy or economy. Everyone knows that the foreign policy of the current regime is a disaster for Pakistan and is run by the trolls. Nawaz Sharif met the Afghan delegation at their request and tried to do damage control caused to Pakistan by the incumbent incompetent govt in the last few weeks. Sharif told the Afghan delegation that the people of Pakistan wish to have a peaceful relationship with Afghanistan and would like to see a stable and prosperous Afghanistan as its stability is linked with that of Pakistan and vice versa. The “Afghan delegation thanked Nawaz Sharif for doing everything during his tenure to improve relations with Afghanistan.

Nawaz Sharif had taken with him the then Army Chief, ISI Chief and three federal ministers for frank dialogue with the Afghan President and his team to Kabul to resolve face to face any differences for the sake of cordial relations between the two Islamic states. "What we observe today is an immature and visionless govt, issuing childish policy statements which are harming the interests of Pakistan all over the world. Pakistan stands diplomatically isolated and Nawaz Sharif’s vision and efforts are aimed at bringing Pakistan out of this isolation and place her at par with other nations with dignity and honor.”

The News had reached out to Nawaz's office in London but no comment was received. 

However, former finance minister Ishaq Dar said that several months ago an Afghan government representative got in touch on behalf of President Ashraf Ghani to convey regards to Nawaz and to ask about his well-being. 

Dar, rejecting the criticism directed towards the meeting, said that the PTI-led government's reaction showed how obsessed it was with Nawaz. 

“During our meeting, both sides focused on the historic relations between the two countries which are tied through history, culture, and religion and have lived side by side," the former finance minister said.

The PML-N leader said Prime Minister Imran Khan's government has caused "irreparable" damage to Pakistan on several fronts, be it foreign policy or economy.

Everyone knows that the foreign policy of the current regime is a disaster for Pakistan and is run by "trolls", the former finance minister said.

"Nawaz Sharif met the Afghan delegation at their request and tried to do damage control that has been caused to Pakistan by the incumbent incompetent government in the last few weeks," he said.

Nawaz informed the delegation that the Pakistanis aspired for a peaceful relationship with Afghanistan and would like to see stability and prosperity there, Dar said, as stability in the war-torn country is linked with that of Pakistan and vice versa. 

Dar claimed the Afghan delegation had thanked Nawaz for doing "everything during his tenures to improve relations with Afghanistan".

Dar said the former premier had taken a delegation, comprising the then army chief, ISI chief, and three federal ministers for a dialogue with the Afghan president and his team in order to resolve any differences for the sake of cordial relations between the two Islamic States.

"What we observe today is an immature and visionless government, issuing childish policy statements which are harming the interests of Pakistan all over the world. Pakistan stands diplomatically isolated and Nawaz Sharif’s vision and efforts are to bring Pakistan out of this isolation and place her at par with other nations with dignity and honor," he added.