PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to take effective steps to remove mistrust between them to help bring lasting peace to the region in general and the two countries in particular.

He expressed these views while addressing the Swat Adabi Kalturi Narriwal Jirga held at the Wadoodia Hall in Swat on Saturday, according to a press release issued here.

He said both the countries should come forward for resolution of all the issues persisting between them on permanent basis. The QWP chief said that restoration of peace in the region was directly linked to peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Chaos and disorder in one country will directly affect the other, he added.

Mr Sherpao suggested that both the neighbouring countries should devise a combined strategy to remove mistrust between them so as to overcome the menace of terrorism in the region.

He lamented that Pakhtuns were deprived of their rights, saying that Pakhtuns were still facing economic disparity despite passage of the 18th amendment.

He said QWP would keep struggling for obtaining and safeguarding the rights of Pakhtuns.

Mr Sherpao said education and other infrastructures had been destroyed in the Pakhtun belt during the ongoing war against terrorism, and asked the government to devise a comprehensive strategy to rebuild the damaged infrastructure. He also called for concerted efforts to rehabilitate the internally displaced persons with honor and dignity.

He said that QWP wanted all Pakhtuns to be united under one banner for getting their basic rights. He acknowledged services rendered by scholars, poets and writers in bringing peace to the region.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2015

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