Sherpao terms PM’s remarks on Afghanistan’s unwanted

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) head Aftab Sherpao on Wednesday said the prime minister’s comment on the interim setup in Afghanistan amounted to interference in the affairs of the war-torn country.Through a statement issued here, he said it would damage Pakistan’s efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. Aftab Sherpao said Afghanistan was a sovereign country and Pakistan should avoid meddling in its affairs. He urged Islamabad to play its role in helping to bring peace to Afghanistan. “Peace is a prerequisite for development,” he said, adding that the entire region would benefit if normalcy returned to Afghanistan. He maintained that peace in Pakistan was linked to stability in Afghanistan.The QWP chief said that terrorism was the greatest challenge being faced by both Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said the government should avoid making such remarks as it could undermine the efforts to restore peace to Afghanistan. Aftab Sherpao urged the government to take steps to remove the trust-deficit and improve relations between Islamabad and Kabul. The QWP leader stressed the need for strengthening contacts with Afghanistan at all levels to resolve bilateral issues. He called for the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to adopt concrete steps to evolve a strategy for bringing lasting peace to the region. “Hostility between the neighbours will not serve the interest of either nation,” he concluded.

from The News International - Peshawar https://ift.tt/2uttwE7