ISLAMABAD (JAN 23, 2017): Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will visit Afghanistan in the coming weeks to hold meetings with Afghan leadership in order to mend the ‘fractured’ ties between the two countries.
COAS will be visiting Kabul at the invitation of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
According to a senior security official, the army chief plans to deliver a ‘clear message’ to the Afghan leadership: “Stop blaming Pakistan for your own failings”.
“Gen Qamar is also expected to inform the Afghan leadership in categorical terms that Pakistan is not patronising any group or providing them sanctuaries,” the official said.
“In fact, he would present ‘compelling evidence’ of how some elements within the Afghan government are supporting terrorist groups that are launching attacks in Pakistan,” he added.
During his conversations with the Afghan leadership, Gen Bajwa had requested to stop the blame game saying that such an approach would not serve the purpose of either country.
Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Office of Pakistan said Islamabad, as the most sincere friend and well-wisher of the Afghan people, had contributed to the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process, whenever requested.
“Pakistan has the highest stakes in peace and stability in Afghanistan. No country gets affected more than Pakistan due to instability in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan is, therefore, beyond any doubt,” FO Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said while rejecting the Afghan allegations.
But before making the next move, Pakistan hopes the new US administration would take a more ‘realistic view’ of Afghanistan and form a policy accordingly.
