Intra-Afghan talks success depends on Afghan leadership, stresses Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan had played its role in Afghan peace and reconciliation process, and now it was up to the Afghan leadership to further move the Intra-Afghan dialogue process, stressed Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday.

The Afghan leadership would be responsible for the success or failure of the dialogue process, said the foreign minister at a news conference here, as he emphasised Pakistan would continue with its role in the Afghan peace process as there should be no ambiguity.

Qureshi regretted that allegations were being levelled against Pakistan for the failure of Afghan peace process. The foreign minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan had been consistently saying that there was no military solution to the Afghan issue.

He stressed a well-negotiated, all-inclusive and broad-based political settlement was the only way forward to establish peace in Afghanistan. To a question the foreign minister maintained they had facilitated the Afghan civilians despite the coronavirus pandemic. “Pakistan has been a generous and hospitable host to the 3 million Afghan refugees for four decades despite its limited resources,” he said, adding if there was any new influx of Afghan refugees, Pakistan did not have the capacity to host them. The foreign minister said it would be the collective responsibility of the international community and other immediate neighbours of Afghanistan in that case.

Pakistan had been urging the international community to play their due role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and for regional peace and stability. He said Pakistan had accomplished about 98 per cent work on fencing of Pak-Afghan border to stop illegal movement of people. He stressed Pakistan was a facilitator and not a guarantor of peace in Afghanistan.

Qureshi said India had violated its obligation as the United Nations Security Council’s president by not allowing Pakistan’s request to brief the forum on the situation and its role in Afghanistan peace process.

To another question, he said Pakistan had clear priorities and there was a national consensus about China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The foreign minister said CPEC had been targeted by the enemies of Pakistan, but they had unflinching resolve to foil all such attempts. Citing different incidents like Serena, Dasu and Johar Town attacks, and Quetta blasts, he reiterated that work on CPEC would continue.

Responding to another query, Qureshi said Pakistan had expedited its efforts to become a president of the UNSC during 2025-26. About the incident of Afghan ambassador’s daughter, the foreign minister said they had shared all the details and evidence with the Afghan delegation as their moral responsibility.