Washington: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Islamabad was looking to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to play its part in curbing the increase in terrorist activities on the Pakistani side on the border.
“We are not only monitoring the situation, but we are working on our side to ensure that we can try to combat the terrorist threat and hope that the Afghan government lives up to its international commitment not to allow their land to be used for terrorism,” said Foreign Minister Christane Amanpour. How do you feel about the Afghan Taliban government, after reports emerged that Kabul had severed ties between the Pakistani army and closed down Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan.
Asked what it would take for Pakistan to accept the current regime in Kabul, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said any decision on this would be taken in consultation with the international community. At the same time, he added, “we continue to promote dialogue, especially with regard to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan”.
Asked if Islamabad was involved with the Afghan Taliban about how Muslim countries could grant rights to women, the minister said it was not a Western issue. “I see women’s rights or women’s rights in education as rights granted to us in Islam. We will emphasize that the Taliban maintain its international obligations and ensure the rights of Afghan women. “
In Ms Amanpour’s statement that the US believes that Pakistan has played a “very dangerous role” in supporting the Afghan Taliban for decades, Bilawal maintained that Pakistan has always been cooperating with Afghanistan and whoever is in power. “We have always supported the fact that, along with the counter-terrorism move, the solution to the conflict was dialogue and diplomacy and finally, unless Pakistan is on the verge of receiving criticism for retaining and maintaining this position, the international community declines.
He added that Kabul’s development had a direct impact on the lives of the people of Pakistan. “We must prioritize, alleviate the social ills, ensure that there is no economic stagnation and keep the Taliban government under international obligations. It was not Pakistan, but the US that was in direct contact with the Taliban regime prior to their takeover of Kabul. Pakistan and the international community believe it will not in it if we dump the people of Afghanistan again. “
Published Parhlo, May 19, 2022
