Peace initiatives with Pakistan remain unsuccessful, says Afghan president

Published July 9, 2016
Ghani says Pakistan's dangerous distinction between good and bad terrorists is being maintained in practice. ─Afghan President's website
Ghani says Pakistan's dangerous distinction between good and bad terrorists is being maintained in practice. ─Afghan President's website

KARACHI: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday said the peace initiatives taken by Afghanistan with Pakistan are not successful as Pakistan differentiates between good and bad terrorists "in practice".

"Our regional initiatives with neighbours are beginning to yield significant cooperative dividends. However, the exception is with Pakistan," the Afghan president said during his speech on second day of Nato summit.

He added that despite clear commitments to the quadrilateral peace process, "Pakistan's dangerous distinction between good and bad terrorists is being maintained in practice."

"The key problem among our neighbouring states is an absence of agreed rules of the game, thus we seek regional and global support in creating those rules, which will bind us to collective security and harmony," said Ghani.

The Afghan president maintained that the world leaders should understand that Afghanistan is facing a multi-dimensional conflict and is fighting all sorts of groups "ranging from Al-Qaeda and Daesh to terrorist groups with Central Asian, Chinese, and Russian origins, to Pakistani groups classified as terrorists by Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban groups".

Also Read: Afghan refugee camps 'safe havens' for terrorists: Aziz‏

US President Obama shakes hand with Ashraf Ghani during the Nato summit at Warsaw. ─Afghan President's Twitter profile
US President Obama shakes hand with Ashraf Ghani during the Nato summit at Warsaw. ─Afghan President's Twitter profile

Citing the 2015 Makka declaration against terrorism as an example, Ghani claimed that Afghanistan's dialogue within the Arab-Muslim community was also productive.

He was of the view that the recent terrorist attack near the Mosque of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Medina has outraged the Muslim community and "should result in a consensus against the tiny minority that is attempting to hijack our civilization".

Related: Suicide blast near Masjid-i-Nabvi kills four security officials

Ghani thanked all the Nato countries for "fighting shoulder to shoulder" with Afghanistan's own forces and claimed that the organisation has maintained its relevance and effectiveness in the paradigm shift presented by post-9/11 Afghanistan.

"The organization’s fulfillment of both its combat and support missions in Afghanistan is a corroboration of NATO’s continued global relevance, adaptability and effectiveness. Its transformative legacy, however, is building our 352,000 strong security and defense forces," said Ghani.

He also thanked United States (US) President Obama for expanding the authorities of the Resolute Support Mission and his latest decision to maintain American troops throughout his term.

Related: Obama expands US military commitment to Afghanistan

FO disappointed over Ghani's remarks

Foreign Office (FO) strongly reacted to the Afghan president's speech at the Nato summit and said that Ashraf Ghani's remarks were disappointing and a continuation of Afghan government's policy of blaming Pakistan for its failures.

"Pakistan is disappointed with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's remarks at the Nato Summit. It is unfortunate that Afghan leaders continue to make hostile statements against Pakistan and blame Pakistan for all failures in Afghanistan", FO spokesman Nafees Zakaria said.

The spokesman added that Pakistan will continue to make every effort to help bring peace in Afghanistan as peace in the neighbouring country is in Pakistan's interest.

Zakaria maintained that Pakistan also expects cooperation from Afghan government in its fight against terrorism through effective border management and denying sanctuaries to anti-Pakistan terrorists from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"The need of the hour is close cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan rather than constant blame game by the Afghan government based on assumptions," the FO spokesman added.

Opinion

Editorial

Middle East carnage
Updated 21 Apr, 2025

Middle East carnage

It seems that to many in the world, people of Yemen and occupied Palestine are not human.
A new page
21 Apr, 2025

A new page

FOREIGN Secretary Amna Baloch’s trip to Dhaka has breathed new life into Pakistan’s long-dormant relationship...
No stone unturned
21 Apr, 2025

No stone unturned

WHILE the absence of new polio cases since Feb 10 is welcome news, this pause in transmission must not breed...
Canal politics
Updated 20 Apr, 2025

Canal politics

The consequences of the state taking decisions without regard for its people can be seen yet again in the form of widespread restlessness and anger.
Lesser citizens
20 Apr, 2025

Lesser citizens

CAN the state ever turn the dream of communal harmony into reality? A slew of injustices torment Pakistan’s...
Winning spree
20 Apr, 2025

Winning spree

AFTER sealing qualification for the ICC Women’s World Cup, Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana immediately set her sights...