PESHAWAR: The outgoing Consul General of Afghanistan in Peshawar Dr Abdullah Waheed Poyan has said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly neighbouring states and they should play their due roles effectively in removing the trust deficit and develop cordial relations between them.

He stated this while speaking at a function hosted in his honour by the journalist community of the provincial capital at the Peshawar Press Club on Sunday.

Referring to nature of his job, Mr Poyan said diplomacy was not an easy work and needed full determination and especially in a situation when the region was passing through worst law and order situation.

He disclosed that he even received life threats but did not confine himself to office and tried to have interaction with people like writers, poets, journalists and other literary people.

The diplomat said when he took charge of his office about two years ago the tension between the two countries was peaking and diplomats were reluctant to be posted here in such a hostile situation. However, he said he accepted the job happily considering Peshawar his second home and people here his brothers and friends.

Mr Poyan said before arrival in Pakistan the Afghan president had advised him to work for strengthening friendly ties between the two countries, which are tied in common religion, culture, history, traditions and customs.

He lauded the love and kindness of locals and said people to people relations were exemplary as both the countries shared culture, language, religion and values. He thanked the journalists’ community for the farewell party and said he would remember the love and sincerity of mediapersons and writers.

On the occasion, Prof Abaseen Yusufzai lauded the role of Dr Poyan in bringing the people of both the countries closer. He said Dr Poyan worked hard for strengthening people to people relations and proved that the peoples tied in many bonds could not be separated from each other.

Senior journalist Mian Farooq Firaq appreciated the efforts made by the envoy for normalisation of ties between the two neighbouring states. He recalled that Dr Poyan extended unprecedented support in arranging a function in honour of noted Pashto singer Khyal Muhammad in Peshawar.

Journalists Nasar Dawar and Zahir Shah Sherazi also spoke and appreciated the services of the outgoing Afghan diplomat, who they said played vital role in normalising relations between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2017