By: Asem Mustafa Awan
Afghan ambassador Najibullah Ali Khil met with Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters and two discussed the peace process in Afghanistan viz-a- vis the approaching deadline of May 1 which is viewed as withdrawal of the United States troops from the country.
General Bajwa made it clear that peace in Afghanistan is linked directly with peace in Pakistan and the two countries should join hands to make it work. The army chief made it clear that Pakistan has only one goal and that is peaceful, independent, democratic, stable and prosperous Afghanistan and will go all out in making it possible though meaningful dialogues between all the factions.
General Bjawa underlined the need for making Afghan government realise the fact that Pakistan’s role is globally acknowledged and that is the sole reason Pakistan’s participation is sought in all the meeting that are linked directly and indirectly in the peace process.
There is also no doubt that bilateral cooperation is essential for peace in the region and the Afghan administration must play its full role in this regard, which requires that the two countries work together to eradicate terrorism from the region.
The army chief pointed out at the border management system and stressed the need for making it more strengthened and effective. Pakistan has always taken the initiative and try to ensure that the warring factions should be involved in a dialogue to pave the way for peace in the region.
Pakistan’s cooperation in initiating talks between the Taliban and the United States cannot be ignored and it is Pakistan that has worked to make it possible between the two sides. The dialogue success was only possible with Pakistan’s participation in ensuring the two sides sit at the table.
US representative Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representative Abdul Ghani Baradar sign the agreement in Doha, Qatar on February 29, 2020 speaks volume of Pakistan’s role in the peace process.
He made it clear that now is the time the parties must realise that the success of the peace process is essential to the region’s development as billions have been poured in without a result and thousands of lives have been lost in an effort which made the region a flashing point globally.
The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s role for conflict management in the region and persistent backing in the Afghan Peace Process.
Pakistan has always sought to make the negotiations between the United States and the Taliban a success. The Afghan administration must work for the success of negotiations in the wider interests of the region as the world now looks at them. The two decades of conflict should end now.