CHARSADDA: Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani’s negotiation offer to Pakistan is a positive step that will reduce tension between the two countries.

Speaking at Ghazi Gul Baba Mosque after Eid prayers, he urged Pakistan to reciprocate positively because peace was prerequisite for stability and economic development.

He said that unity among Pakhtuns was need of the hour. He added that foreign elements should stop from interference in the region.

The ANP chief said that bilateral talks could end mistrust between the two countries. “Pakistan should take initiative in this regard. Kabul and Islamabad should take bold steps to improve ties,” he added.

He showed astonishment over statements of Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq against corruption and said that the JI emir had closed his eyes to corruption in the so-called Afghan jihad.

Mr Khan said that JI laid foundation of corruption in Pakistan by misappropriating billion of dollars during the so-called jihad. He said that champions of transparency ignored corruption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ANP chief announced to convene all-party conference in Islamabad on Sept 14 to develop consensus for merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that social, political, legal and economic rights of tribal people could be safeguarded through merger Fata with the province.

Mr Khan said that ANP would continue struggle for merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that his party gave identity to millions of Pakhtuns by renaming NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The existing administrative line between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata will be omitted very soon,” said Khan, adding that Pakhtuns living in Balochistan would be integrated with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ANP chief alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan promoted culture of abusive language in politics. He said that Imran Khan and senior leaders of PTI owned offshore companies, but no action was taken against them. He said that Imran wanted to remove Nawaz Sharif from power, not to eliminate corruption.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao also welcomed statement of President Ghani and said that friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were inevitable for sustainable peace in the region.

Talking to journalists, he said that statement of Afghan president was important in the context of prevailing situation in the region. He said that stable and prosperous Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2017