ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US and UK told a seminar on Monday that the pre-requisites for a peaceful withdrawal of Nato forces and a political end to the Afghan war were not yet in place.

“This heightened the risk of Afghanistan descending into turmoil after 2014 and a security vacuum taking hold,” she said atthe seminar organised by the Senate Defence Committee and Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung.

Dr Lodhi said it was urgent for the next occupant of the White House to clarify US policy and work towards a negotiated peace in Afghanistan.