Enemies of Afghanistan are enemies of Pakistan: Sartaj Aziz

E-Paper | March 19, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the first senior officials' meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process that enemies of Afghanistan are enemies of Pakistan.

Aziz said Pakistan will be able to tackle challenges through mutual cooperation, enabling the country to move forward on a path of peace, prosperity and progress.

"Afghanistan holds immense significance for us, not only because we share a common border or ethnic affinity, but also because together we can usher in a new era of regional connectivity and regional cooperation in line with the vision of transformation decade enunciated by President Ashraf Ghani," Aziz said.

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, a joint initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey which began in November 2011, aims to provide a platform for the discussion of regional issues, and to encourage security and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbours.

The adviser assured Pakistan's firm commitment towards ensuring that Afghanistan's transformation phase becomes a harbinger of regional growth and prosperity, and expressed hope that with a combination of dedication and resourcefulness, the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process would be driven along a productive path.

Earlier in May, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during a day-long visit, to Kabul reaffirmed Pakistan's full support for an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process, acknowledging that Pakistan had the highest stake in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Following Nawaz's visit, news broke of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Afghan intelligence outfit National Directorate of Security (NDS) having signed an accord for cooperation in counter-terrorism operations.

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Qaisar

May 25, 2015 04:24pm

Say something new or something more creating. We have been listenning this sentence by so many people and for so many times. looks like our foreign adviser has lot of free time.

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Factual

May 25, 2015 04:38pm

We should reach out to elected Afghan Government. This is right approach in our foreign policy. Prosperity and development of both nations lies on this path.

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kaisar amulchand

May 25, 2015 04:44pm

You say the same thing with china (which has no connection/similarity with pakistan). Actually, the nearest and dearest country for pakistan should be India. If pakistan, india, bangladesh are reunited and become greater pakistan, it will be 1.6 billion people and will be the world's most powerful country.

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Blue Saffron

May 25, 2015 04:52pm

To a logical mind the first such cooperation should be in securing borders and therefore putting a border fence and monitoring system.

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M.M.Sherazi

May 25, 2015 05:04pm

Pakistan and Afghanistan jointly can uplift the standards of living for their people, they should not play in the hands of the enemies..

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Awais Ali

May 25, 2015 05:19pm

Very good foreign policy peaceful Afghanistan is very very compulsory for Pakistan.

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Arshad Hussain

May 25, 2015 05:32pm

That's the fact can't be denied, but this is same for Saudia too.

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Kazim Reza

May 25, 2015 05:38pm

Whether Pakistan and Afghanistan really believe it?

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Sohail

May 25, 2015 05:58pm

Peaceful Afghanistan is key to the peace in South Asia. Good to hear the same from FO.

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indian

May 25, 2015 06:08pm

Mr sartaj sir What about Afganistans Friend circle.Are they too your friends.

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blue saffron

May 25, 2015 06:09pm

Vice-versa is not true however

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Jayakumar

May 25, 2015 06:28pm

Enemies of Afghanistan are Pakistans enemies,very good words indeed but..could Afghanistan reciprocate with the same words , never.Because Afghanistan has some valuable & reliable friends who are enemies of Pakistan.

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Addy

May 25, 2015 06:48pm

Afghanistan has been more of a threat than an opportunity for Pakistan - drugs, arms and hard liners. Afghan Transit Trade is the main smuggling route (http://nation.com.pk/national/11-May-2015/afghan-transit-trade-main-smuggling-funnel). It is important that effective border control be enforced on the western font and all import/export should be through proper channel. It is this area that both countries should work together. Suggestions: * Simplify import/export through official means. * Work with Afghan government to identify supply chain for drugs/arms smuggling * Heavily mine the places which are difficult to police and used for illicit activities

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Jatt

May 25, 2015 06:53pm

But does Ashraf Ghani accept enemies of pakistan as enemies of Afghanistan.

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Prashant

May 25, 2015 06:54pm

Is the opposite also true Mr. minister? I don't think so.

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Jatt

May 25, 2015 06:58pm

@kaisar amulchand Pakistan if it wanted closer ties can seek them with Afghanistan, Iran and china. No need to have any relationships with India at all.

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PHILOSOPHER

May 25, 2015 07:28pm

Is this a new kind of discovery??? We always fought side-by-side with Afghanistan especially during the attempt of Soviet invasion to Afghanistan...and we are facing the serious repercussions of such alignment with Afghanistan, in the form of a new drug and arms culture in various parts of Pakistan.

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Oops

May 25, 2015 07:29pm

"And enemies of India is friends of Pakistan and no its not the same other way"

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Lover Khan

May 25, 2015 07:37pm

@Jayakumar Pakistan must mean and act on what it has been saying hundreds of times in the past 14 years. Pakistan must mean what it says and say what it means. Pakistani establishment must get emotionally involved with the idea, otherwise its useless and utter nonsense.

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waseem

May 25, 2015 09:21pm

@indian No We believe Afgjanstan is in a bad company as far as frirndship concerned Like Russia india and Iran

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salahuddin

May 25, 2015 09:32pm

@ jatt .agreed

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syed wasim haider

May 25, 2015 09:37pm

A very low profile statement, may be a little sensational.

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Kalandar

May 25, 2015 09:38pm

what about friends of Afganistan?

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Guest65

May 25, 2015 11:09pm

More than 3 decades ago , a simmilar slogan was coined by the then Military ruler of Pakistan ( Gen Zia ) , when the USSR armies came into Afghanistan to help prop up the Govt or Babra Kamal ( the then President of Afghanistan , whoes strings were managed/pulled by USSR ! ) and the Nation ( Pakistani nation ) knows the price it has ever since been paying with our blood and flesh . Today the same slogan is being riased by the so called "Civilian rulers" yet the nation know who is actually ruling the country ! , This time the Govt and President of Afghanistan is an economist from IMF whose strings are being managed/pulled by USA ! ) .... The Country is the same , The slogan is the same , The string pullers have changed BUT they have been time tested people who will desert Us the Stupid Nation , at the very moment they will know we use up date has passed , like thy did BEFORE too ,,, are raising the same Mindless slogan .... Are we going to another Afghan Jehad , One may dare Ask ???

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Sami Qureshi

May 25, 2015 11:30pm

Friends of Afghanistan are the friends of Pakistan. The enmity between India and Pakistan now does not exist at all. It is a good gesture .

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May 26, 2015 12:27am

This guy just talks to fill up the free space and make himself relevant.

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umer

May 26, 2015 02:20am

Without reaching a long term accord with Taliban, the target of peaceful Afghanistan is not possible. US tried massive force and huge budget against them but they are undeterred.

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Jaago

May 26, 2015 03:08am

So...are friends of Afghanistan, friends of Pakistan?

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Mohammad Saleemn

May 26, 2015 03:45am

That so-called landmark deal has been repudiated by the Afghan lower house of parliament, and, political parties to be in conflict with the national interests of Afghanistan. Ghani, lacks expertise in foreign affairs, and his policy of appeasement toward Pakistan has backfired.

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dipak

May 26, 2015 06:30am

only india is providinfg help in dev afghanistan by building shool. bridges roads hospitals and public welfare, and for that india has spend billions of dollars in afghanistan that world has noted. sir pl tell us how much yr country has spend. let world to know. only distruction only distruction.people of afg. has noted.

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