News
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Pak-Afghan contacts to remove mistrust: Sherpao* US will reach conclusion about Afghanistan after parliamentary elections
By Iqbal Khattak
PESHAWAR: Former interior minister Aftab Khan Sherpao advocated Saturday for top, institutional and people-to-people level contacts between Pakistan and Afghanistan to remove “mistrust” getting in their way of improving relations.
“Mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan has not gone away. It does exists even now and Afghan President Hamid Karzai repeated allegations during his recent visit to Islamabad,” Aftab Sherpao, who is also central president of the Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao, told a group of journalists at his residence on Saturday.
He said as long as people-to-people contacts do not start, both Kabul and Islamabad would live with mistrust. “That is why I believe both countries should have top, institutional and people-to-people-level contacts to improve relations and live in peaceful co-existence.”
Sherpao said both Afghan and Pakistani parliamentarians should form constituencies in their countries to promote bilateral trade, political and diplomatic relations. He advised Islamabad to “treat Afghanistan as a sovereign state”.
He argued that the US would revisit available options about the Afghanistan strategy after the election of a new Parliament. “Whatever the US decides about Afghanistan it will be decided after Parliament formation and Pakistan should keep a close eye on the situation,” he said.
“I believe the Americans will reach any conclusion about Afghanistan after parliamentary elections,” he asserted. Sherpao held the view that Washington should get Islamabad onboard as far as any exit policy for Afghanistan was approved after parliamentary elections having taken place on Saturday amidst Taliban threats.
“Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US are still a long way apart to reach a common ground on Afghanistan,” he said. He argued that Washington should demonstrate “flexibility” and Pakistan and Afghanistan should reach a common ground for helping peace return to the war-battered Afghanistan.
Asked if “Afghanistan’s division” would benefit the countries in the region, the PPP-S president replied “All these options will be considered after the new Parliament is formed.”
Sherpao expressed concern at the security situation in Kurram Agency where civilians were dying and the government, as Sherpao believes, “does not look serious” to address the issue. He warned foreign forces could intervene using the pretext of security issue in Kurram.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk