Pakistan should not object to our ties with India: Afghan envoy

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

Pakistan should maintain a "good brotherly relationship" with Afghanistan irrespective of the latter’s ties with any other country including India, Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omer Zakhilwal advised Islamabad on Tuesday.

Dr Zakhilwal said both the sides will have to respect each other’s sovereignty and move ahead to narrow down their differences to build long lasting trust.

He was addressing a round table discussion, titled “Bilateral Reconciliation: Opportunities and Challenges”, organised by Regional Peace Institute in the federal capital.

“Pakistan should not object to our ties with India. We assure that Afghanistan-India relationship will not inflict harm upon Pakistan", he said.

Zakhilwal emphatically said that peace in Afghanistan is mandatory to establish durable peace in Pakistan, adding that both the countries should move forward to remove “mistrust”.

Afghan envoy also accepted the mismanagement on part of Kabul. He said that the Afghan government should take action against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan's sanctuaries operating against Islamabad from inside Afghanistan.

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MUHAMMAD FAHEEM KHAN

Sep 12, 2017 02:48pm

if Afghan land will be used for terror against Pak then u have your self to blame

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Jummani

Sep 12, 2017 02:50pm

Mr. Ambassador...no one can have any objections to your ties with any country but if that country is using your land to launch attacks on Pakistan then it is not just objection but other means can also be used to control the situation. India can never be your friend...they are only using you.

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Muhammad Tahir Jamali

Sep 12, 2017 02:52pm

Sir, you have right to keep diplomatic relations with any country. But your soil should not be allowed to use against Pakistan. So many missions of india?.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Sep 12, 2017 02:52pm

Who do you think, you are fooling Mr Ambassador, we all know what are India's short, medium and long term intentions. Time will tell, who are the true friends!

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Peace

Sep 12, 2017 02:54pm

It is best for each country to have good relationships with their neighbors. Same for Afghanistan and India. As a Pakistani, we should not object their relationship, as long as it does not harm Pakistan. We should rather support them, because it will bring peace and stability in The region.

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Sep 12, 2017 02:54pm

Historically Afghanistan has always opposed Pakistan on all fronts. It's was mistake by the army establishment to try install a puppet Govt in Afghanistan in name of strategic depth. In this process Pakistan has suffered a lot already and still suffering. Pakistan should understand that India has the leverage now to open another front on Western boarder and need the think the way how to avoid hostile response from Afghanistan.

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Amanullah Lodhi

Sep 12, 2017 02:57pm

So there we go now ... Afghanistan has now finally accepted the fact that there are hidden sanctuaries of TTP with in their territory who are involved in terrorist activities against Pakistan. Now that they have accepted this very fact ... they should also accept that RAW is aiding and abaiting the TTP from Afghanistan right under the nose of Ashraf Ghani regime in Kabul.

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Dil Say Pakistan

Sep 12, 2017 02:57pm

Dear Ambassador, Thank you for your assurance that your relation with India will not harm Pakistan. At the same time I can not ignore your innocence that it is "India" who is using your soil with and without your knowledge. How many proofs you need that India has made SAAR ineffective for its political regional game.

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Sep 12, 2017 02:59pm

It is already hence proved to Afghanistan that Pakistan is the friend in need, As India how about giving asylum and refuge to Afghans in India.

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sac

Sep 12, 2017 03:03pm

@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani The same can be said of China and Pak. Its the same. Think of it.

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Khalid

Sep 12, 2017 03:04pm

Pakistan is only objecting raw funded activities in Pakistan which are being controlled by several Indian consulates along Afghan-Pak border. Do you experience such phenomena anywhere in this world?

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Abid

Sep 12, 2017 03:05pm

Accept the Durrand line, take back your citizens from Pakistan and stop taking money from India to destabilise Pakistan after that you can become an RSS member for all we care, Mr Ambassador. By the way we never had objection before like when Afghanistan became a socialist state and brought the USSR to our back yard ... not until your countrymen started screaming "Shorawi" all the time and started attacking the hand that was feeding them. Won't be long before we see your countrymen holding Indians responsible for your own mess.

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Akhtar ali shah KHATTAK Nowshervi

Sep 12, 2017 03:06pm

Pakitsan has not objected ever to your ties with India. But we have objected and will do so if your soil was used against Pakistan as witnessed in the recent past.You are free,not bound, to have ties with any country and take your country forward. We wish you all the best!

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RaNA

Sep 12, 2017 03:06pm

Have you ever wondered why India gives so much development and security aid only to Afghanistan and not to any other poor countries of the world?

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South Asia

Sep 12, 2017 03:09pm

Half the world's intellegence agencies are working in Afghanistan. They know and admire India's rebuilding roll. It India was attacking Pakistan from there, China would not have sat quiet so long. Its just that the earlier Johadis that were trained for fighting Soviet and then USA are now unemployment and are doing whatever work they get.

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Asif

Sep 12, 2017 03:09pm

Why not take your brethren back to your country and stop giving us advices?

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Sarmad Hassan

Sep 12, 2017 03:12pm

Better to control your country instead of getting cheap fame by abusing Pakistan.

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Hira Sadozai

Sep 12, 2017 03:13pm

Pakistan wants peace in the region and has already done alot for this. Now Afghanistan needs to look into their side , as india has been using your land and plans to use in future as well !

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rich

Sep 12, 2017 03:15pm

@Muhammad Tahir Jamali Sir, you have right to keep diplomatic relations with any country. But your soil should not be allowed to use against Pakistan. So many missions of india?. by same logic we can say pakistan should not have ties with china, bec it threatens our security will u agree?

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POLITY

Sep 12, 2017 03:16pm

India should also take all Afghan refugees.

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M.Saeed

Sep 12, 2017 03:24pm

The whole world knows the purpose of India in Afghanistan. Pakistan has always maintained "good brotherly relationship" with Afghanistan irrespective of the latter’s ties with any other country including India and its proof is the fact that almost all of Afghan leaders had studied and maintain their second homes in Pakistan. But, the back stabbers for personal gains are plenty in Afghanistan. For that, India is the most durable and consistent exploiter of Afghans against Pakistan for its extreme hate against Pakistan that it never hides..

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SDA

Sep 12, 2017 03:29pm

Mr. Ambassador, it's ok if you are lured into having good ties with India, but please do not allow India and be part with them when it comes to launching attacks on Pakistan form your side. Also, we hope that you are able to maintain you sovereignty as an independent Muslim state while being friends with India. At the end, we are your true Muslim friends. where was India when you guys were being beaten by Russians and Pakistan took millions of refugees from your beloved country and provided shelter.

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Sep 12, 2017 03:30pm

@hk Afghanistan has been in existence long before Pakistan.....

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Mohammed

Sep 12, 2017 03:31pm

India is good for it own interest , but for other countries it want to isolate. Then why do bisiness with India. Pakistan has the right to object & must not. Both countries must respect one another & work to gather to form pact. India must not keep accusing Pakistan attacks on its side of the line of control.

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Try

Sep 12, 2017 03:33pm

@Hira Sadozai Hahahahha! Your foreign minster said the other day that Pakistan has to correct its course for all the countries to respect them and you are saying Pak has done a lot. Either you know a lot or the Foreign minster doesn't know much. Which one is true?

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Pashtoon

Sep 12, 2017 03:39pm

Unstable Afghanistan will effect Pakistan not India. They are using you as proxy. They still remember name of Hindukush (Crush Hindus) mountains.

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CranberryClownes

Sep 12, 2017 03:41pm

@Try they can't keep their lies straight.

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Taimoor Khan

Sep 12, 2017 03:42pm

Afghanistan knows what the score is. No use of Afghan soil by India to spread terrorism in Pakistan. Unless and until that is guaranteed and verified, the rest becomes meaningless.

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Alfa ZULU

Sep 12, 2017 03:45pm

Rather candid in his discourse, good diplomacy by Afghan envoy.

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Asif

Sep 12, 2017 03:46pm

Mr.Ambassador, We are worried about your govt writ on the your land is weak. you dont have control of approx 45% of Afghanistan. Which makes your land to be used by militants and we are hosting your 3million people & some are involved in crimes on our land. You better worry fixing these issues instead of worrying what pak thinks.

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sabir

Sep 12, 2017 03:47pm

Does this hold validity. As India, America, Iran and Afghanistan all say that safe heavens are found for elements which inflict damage to all the neighboring countries.

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Pashtoon

Sep 12, 2017 03:52pm

Mr Ambassador is not serious about stability in Afghanistan. Why don't you ask China to elevate the lives of Afghans. You will remain proxy and unstable forever. Unstable Afghanistan will effect Pakistan only not India.

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Fahd

Sep 12, 2017 03:55pm

These are hollow words, Afghanistan currently hosting all of our terrorist under NDS patronage.

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S. Lalani

Sep 12, 2017 03:58pm

The ambassador has advised that "Pakistan should maintain good brotherly relationship with Afghanistan". Well it was brotherly relationship that we allowed more than three million Afghan refugees and feeding them for now almost three decades. But the successive and thankless Afghan governments from Karzai to Ashraf Ghani keeps blaming Pakistan. It is time the refugees are sent back to their country.

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SAK

Sep 12, 2017 04:01pm

Let me make one thing very clear to you these is no "good brotherly relationship" between your country and Pakistan, you should have great relationship with India. Please take all your refugees back have India help you with it. I will like to cleanup Karachi for good that has been destroyed by refugees from your country. They brought drugs and arms in Karachi since 1980's

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ManyFaces

Sep 12, 2017 04:05pm

Its good that the Afghan Government is acknowledging that they have issues from their end as well, but they must also not jump the gun and blame Pakistan on all attacks that happen in Afghanistan. Remember, they are still at war with the Taliban and lost a lot of area to them from the northern side.

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Umar Aftab

Sep 12, 2017 04:08pm

Pakistan should seal its border with Afghanistan until a stable government that has control of the entire country takes over.

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Masood

Sep 12, 2017 04:09pm

Kick him out!!!

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subh

Sep 12, 2017 04:09pm

@Amanullah Lodhi where did they accept that? Do you know or understand English?

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Momtaz Ahmad Ghulam Rasool

Sep 12, 2017 04:12pm

If Afghanistan allows India to establish a military base in Afghanistan,than Pakistan has the right to destroy it;Pakistan must destroy it!

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Abdulla Hussain

Sep 12, 2017 04:18pm

The Afghan ambassador is missing on a point. India is using Afghanistan to export terrorists to Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan in order to create unrest. Why would Pakistan object to Afghanistan having good relationship with India it it was meant to be diplomatic only in nature. Pakistan is comfortable with several other regional countries having good relationship with India.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 12, 2017 04:18pm

What a silly joke?

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Sep 12, 2017 04:21pm

@sac - do not be pessimistic and jealous of our friendship and good relationship with China for over 50 years. Whereas, India's involvement in Afghanistan is temporary and being used for unilateral interest.

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Truth hurts

Sep 12, 2017 04:24pm

Lies & lies

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Yahya Ali

Sep 12, 2017 04:25pm

You can have good relations with any country you want but if that country is using your land to launch terror attack on us than that's when the problems arise

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Khwarizmi

Sep 12, 2017 04:25pm

Pakistan will object because NDS is working closely with RAW to create terrorism in Pakistan. Even NATO think tanks have written about this.

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ISH

Sep 12, 2017 04:29pm

@hk wow so some one can now come forward and put the blame of people who made the wrong decision and make an example of them so that in future such blunders are not made? Certainly not happening, we will, like always push history under the rug until the same mistake is repeated next time.

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Ashok Saigal

Sep 12, 2017 04:33pm

@MUHAMMAD FAHEEM KHAN Absolutely correct. That is exactlywhat India keeps telling Pakistan, and they never listen!

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Talat Naeem

Sep 12, 2017 04:34pm

"Sovereignty". The word has found new meanings in Afghanistan. US & Allies have been trampling every inch of this Sovereign Country since long and here's his highness lecturing us on sovereignty.

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aleem

Sep 12, 2017 04:35pm

We have no issues with Indian -Afghanistan friendship. Our request to Afghan ambassador is to take all the Afghani refugees back and try to live in peace. We have had enough problems in our country due to Afghan wars. Just leave us alone. Thank You

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QADIR KHAN BALOUCH

Sep 12, 2017 04:38pm

Giving preference to India over us is the worst thing you could decide as a nation. We have you people eating our wheat where was India when you were in trouble? Where is Muslim brotherhood? All we get to listen is thankless Afghans blaming us for all their ills. Time to send refugees back and tackle the situation emotionlessly as is need of the hour. If India is so close to you and launches attacks from your soil then brother Mr. Ambassador we know how to swing things around.

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asgher

Sep 12, 2017 04:52pm

the last paragraph surprised me. Its a great news that he accepted it.

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Sonika Das

Sep 12, 2017 05:06pm

@Jummani India & Afghanistan are friends since centuries obviously much before Pakistan was created.

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timetostopthis

Sep 12, 2017 05:27pm

@Peace Completely agree with your comment. Yours is one of the best comments here.

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timetostopthis

Sep 12, 2017 05:39pm

You can object to whatever you want. Ultimately Afghanistan will do what they think is good for their country.

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Jayaseelan

Sep 12, 2017 07:16pm

We can do wonders without Pakistan. Please remember and do proper decession

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Hassan

Sep 12, 2017 09:41pm

@Jummani you are right

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Alvi

Sep 13, 2017 12:00am

@Masood immediately!!!

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SyedChaudhryGangaDinKhan

Sep 13, 2017 12:18am

From this picture, Afghan envoy looks possessed.

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Amir

Sep 13, 2017 01:16am

Pakistan has no problem but unfortunately your Indians friends will never allow a stability to return to Afghanistan because stable Afghanistan is good for Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan

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Rare

Sep 13, 2017 01:24am

@Jayaseelan you decide, then inform about your responsible decision.

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Timor

Sep 13, 2017 01:33am

Time for Afghanistan to claim the land what is theirs. All the land from Attock to the current border should go to Afghaistan.

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SANA

Sep 13, 2017 01:45am

@Asif First of all no one gives anyone 'advices' but gives "advice' then the 'brethern' you talk of supporting come with aid from the UN Am sure you don't see the money because you always elect govt. officials who are magicians with making money that comes in, disappear and then making it appear in their own pockets so focus on better leaders you may still have time

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Rational citizen.

Sep 13, 2017 04:15am

@RaNA India has annual foreign aid budget of 1.6 billion dollars. Bhutan gets 980 million dollars alone, Bhutan has rich water resources so we are setting up hydro power projects for them and we even purchase electricity from them, guess what Bhutan is not a threat to world, rather it is officially the happiest country in world. Afghanistan gets just 108 million$ from India which is roughly 2.5% of 4 billion$ global aid that Afgh. recieves in a year. India has built Salma dam, parliament building and infrastructure in Afgh, trains medical paramedical staffs, provides telemedicine services, trains police officers. With annual 1000 million $ of US aid you can't stabilise pakistan but with just 108 million $ India can destabilise Pakistan from Afghanistan ? Also India annually gives 80 million$ to Sri lanka, 70 million to Nepal, 45 million to Bangladesh & Myanmar each, 50 million$ to African countries 40 million $ to Maldives. This is just aid I haven't mentioned about credits lines.

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jamshed

Sep 13, 2017 08:01am

First, you must prove as an independent country by removing all foreign troops and their toxic influence, bring peace within and stop terrorists activities from your soil, assert your writ all across Afghanistan then we may listen to you. So far you have proven yourself a stooge and lackey of US and India ever ready to harm Pakistan that has given shelter to 4 million of your citizens.Indian friendship comes with certain prerequisite and conditions that are so easy to meet if you and your leadership is sincere with Pakistan and recognize our sacrifices in liberating your country and I have not even mentioned recognizing Durand line without "and "if" or" but" that means unconditionally as international border.

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London Kundon

Sep 13, 2017 09:12am

Well said

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Abdullah

Sep 13, 2017 09:19am

This is great and I'm glad India is gonna get itself involved in this never ending, economy eating war. Pakistan had to save its border, wonder what's india's plan is expect countering pakistan from afghan side also, and increasing their exports. Let's hope Pakistan makes progress while india is busy there.

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Kanisius

Sep 13, 2017 10:18am

I cant understand, why you peoples are doing just word wars with aghanistan, pakistan and india. What's wrong with you all. Some leaders are using us as an weapon to fulfill their needs. So be patient, and live your life with love and peace.

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Kanisius

Sep 13, 2017 10:20am

@Jummani likewise as per your statement, china also cant be your true friend.

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mansurulbari

Sep 13, 2017 12:55pm

Pakistan has every right to object as afghan soil is used against pakistan

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Atul Rajput

Sep 13, 2017 12:58pm

Well all I can say is that India should thank Pakistan and Afghanistan. Had it not been for these two countries, terrorists like ISIS would've already made inroads in India. Though Kashmir has mostly been disturbed, the rest of India can go about their business and not worry about becoming Iran Iraq or Afghanistan.

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Sad but True

Sep 13, 2017 02:42pm

@jamshed When did you liberate Afghanistan?

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Question

Sep 13, 2017 05:26pm

Why do diplomats use the word "brotherly" especially when relations are anything but brotherly???.

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3 DIMENSIONAL POLITICS

Sep 14, 2017 08:01am

@Atul Rajput Was that the reason why your Congress Party accepted partition of India ?

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Ajeya Jha

Sep 15, 2017 07:20am

Obviously!

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