ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has a lot to gain from the Afghan peace process and should take the opportunity to engage in continued smart diplomacy, experts at a seminar said on Thursday.

They warned that Pakistan should not interfere in intra-Afghan affairs.

Titled Afghan Peace Process: Implications and Stability, the seminar was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Experts from diversified fields stressed that interference in Afghanistan is not in the interests of Pakistan.

They suggested that Pakistan help Afghanistan economically and facilitate Afghan refugees to help build confidence between the two countries.

“No attention is paid towards the social and economic development of Afghans by stakeholders,” said Salman Bashir, a former foreign secretary.

He said the economic stability of Afghans is more important in the political and peace process, which has been destroyed.

He added that Pakistan should also focus on an extension of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan which he said will be in the interests of both China and Pakistan.

“Pakistan has limited time to act because if there is no consensus during the peace process till the mid of this year, US may withdraw its troops and there are serious threats of a civil war and chaos in Afghanistan,” Mr Bashir said.

Former Ambassador Ayaz Wazir said Pakistan is not prepared to handle Afghanistan as it has not even been able to handle its own tribal areas.

He said the writ of the Afghan government is at a historic low and the Afghan Taliban have lost control over 70pc of their territory which has pushed stakeholders, especially the US, to talk and negotiate.

He suggested Pakistan support an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace resolution and should pursue its own interests instead of meddling in intra-Afghan affairs.

“Afghanistan’s presidential elections are due in April this year but Afghans, including the Taliban will not accept a political set-up similar to the incumbent government,” he added.

Mr Wazir suggested that the intelligence agencies of both countries sign a memorandum of understanding for mutual cooperation on sharing cross border intelligence which he said will prove a real corner stone for building confidence between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Senior analyst Imtiaz Gul said efforts will be made to take Iran and Russia on board the peace process in Afghanistan to make the negotiations successful and meaningful.

He said the Taliban should guarantee that all minorities in Afghanistan will remain unharmed and that there will be a peaceful ceasefire till the conclusion of the peace talks.

SDPI Board of Governors Chairman retired ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel said every country including Pakistan and Afghanistan has a major stake in peace and stability.

He stressed on the need for mutual cooperation and added that there was tremendous potential in medical tourism between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“We should think of economic depth as we have a trade potential of $5 billion,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019