KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday called for a democratic, inclusive and pluralistic Afghanistan while showing concerns over the situation in the neighbouring country.

In a brief statement issued after the hours-long meeting of the party’s central executive committee, the PPP leadership sounded worried over the implication of the developing situation in Afghanistan, mainly for women, men and youth.

“The meeting of PPP CEC was held today and chaired by Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President [Asif Ali] Zardari at Bilawal House, Karachi,” said the statement. “The party expressed concern at the developing situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the women, men and youth of Afghanistan. The party further expressed its concern for the religious and ethnic minorities and vulnerable communities of Afghanistan.”

The party, the statement said, also expressed concern for the potential challenges this could pose for the peace, stability and security of Pakistan as well as other countries in the region. The PPP reiterated its support for a democratic, inclusive, pluralistic Afghanistan where all citizens of Afghanistan are free to realise their full potential in society, it added.

‘Over 40 countries sat in Afghanistan for 20 years and now a humanitarian tragedy is unfolding there’

Former prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, former ambassador to the United States Sherry Rahman, Chaudhary Manzoor, former chairman of senate Raza Rabbani, Farhatullah Babar and other senior leaders of the party attended the meeting.

A party leader said that the meeting was held through video link in which the participants spoke at length on the issue of Afghanistan. The fast changing situation in the neighbouring country, he said, consumed most of the meeting time that evolved the PPP’s point of view and for providing a guideline to the government on the subject.

The PPP came up with its formal reaction to the current Afghan situation. Senior leaders of the party have already raised their concerns mainly over the social media. After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, former ambassador to the United States Sherry Rahman took to the twitter questioning the role of international forces.

“Over 40 countries sat in Afghanistan for 20 years. Now there is a humanitarian tragedy unfolding there. How can this be only Pakistan or Iran’s fault? Isn’t it time the rules based international order followed some of its own rules?” she tweeted.

About another point discussed at the CEC meeting, the senior party leader said that the political situation [in Pakistan] was also discussed briefly.

“The political situation was also discussed to some extent but that remained secondary in the discussion,” he said. “The chairman [PPP] briefed about the recent success of the party and mainly he referred to overwhelming response in Balochistan, where a number of senior politicians have joined the PPP. He also urged the party leaders from all parts of the country to stay connected with their workers and be prepared to go to the masses anytime for the elections.”

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2021