ISLAMABAD: Veteran Associated Press journalist for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kathy Gannon, says that the presence of various militant groups on Afghan soil poses a significant challenge to regional security, Dawn.com reported.
“While Afghanistan might not want all the militant groups on its territory nor did Kabul invite them all, but they were still there,” said Kathy Gannon, who in 2014 was attacked and wounded while reporting from Afghanistan, while speaking at a seminar titled, “Geopolitical shifts and security challenges: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the regional power play”, which was organised by the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad.
Gannon highlighted the importance of restoring trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan, appreciating the recent positive developments in relations between the two neighbours, according to a press release. She said, “Pakistan could better influence the Afghan government by treating it as an equal and a partner in pursuing its regional objectives.”
She also urged Islamabad to take steps against all terrorist groups through a concerted long-term strategy to address its internal security challenges.
Veteran journalist Kathy Gannon believes Kabul still relevant to US policymakers due to increasing Chinese influence in Afghanistan
Gannon maintained that Afghanistan was still relevant to US policymakers “because of the increasing Chinese influence in the country and its mineral wealth”.
Pakistan’s former Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani referred to Pakistan and Afghanistan as twin brothers who had come to each other’s help whenever needed notwithstanding the state of their relationship at the time.
“He hailed the upgradation of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the inclusion of Afghanistan in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as positive developments,” the press release said.
Ambassador Durrani said that in the recent high-level trilateral meeting between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, the three countries had agreed to oppose terrorism, carry out law enforcement and security cooperation, remain vigilant against external interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, and safeguard regional peace and security.
He was of the opinion that there had been a decline in terrorist attacks in Pakistan since the positive development in diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the press release said.
IRS President Ambassador Jauhar Saleem said that despite challenges, regional geopolitics and mutual interests had continually pushed both countries to engage and re-engage across various levels.
He said recent developments pointed towards a more constructive phase in bilateral engagement and expressed his hope that the trilateral dialogue among Pakistan, Afghanistan and China most recently held in Beijing would strengthen regional cooperation on counterterrorism, stability, and economic integration.
Pakistan’s former ambassador to Afghanistan Abrar Hussain argued Islamabad’s top priority in Afghanistan was to promote peace and stability notwithstanding whichever government was in power in the country.
Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2025