UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan told a United Nations briefing on Afghanistan Tuesday that turning back from the ongoing Afghan peace process would be a tragedy, especially after making \u201csubstantial progress\u201d towards a political solution to the country\u2019s conflict, even though difficulties remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would be a tragedy if because of these difficulties we were to turn back on the peace process and revert to a military strategy,\u201d Ambassador Munir Akram said after senior United Nations (UN) officials briefed member states on the 2021 humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA political solution is the only path to peace in Afghanistan,\u201d the Pakistani envoy told the session organized by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy Prime Minister (Imran Khan) has consistently maintained that the Afghan conflict can be ended, not by military force, but through a political settlement involving the full spectrum of Afghanistan\u2019s political landscape,\u201d Ambassador Akram told the session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan, he said, shared international community\u2019s determination not to allow Afghanistan\u2019s territory to be used by Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other international terrorist groups, to threaten or attack any country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pakistani envoy called on all parties to the Afghan conflict to take \u201curgent steps\u201d to reduce the level of violence leading to cessation of hostilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe ongoing intra-Afghan negotiations have rekindled hope for peace through a comprehensive political settlement,\u201d he said, urging the Afghan parties to seize this historic opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is the Afghans who must be the masters of their destiny and decide their own future without outside influence or interference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afghanistan needs peace, an end to foreign intervention and terrorism as these factors had left a devastating impact on the humanitarian situation in the country, the Pakistani envoy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan, he said, has committed a billion dollars to Afghanistan\u2019s development, out of which US $ 500 million have already been spent on infrastructure and capacity-building projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite COVID-19 and closure of borders by so many countries, the Pakistani government had revised its visa policy to facilitate Afghan nationals to visit Pakistan especially for medical facilities. \u201cWe have opened the border at five crossing points; and donated medical equipment to Afghanistan,\u201d Ambassador Akram said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan, he pointed out, has hosted millions of Afghan refugees over the last four decades, and remained committed to their safe and dignified return to their homeland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe stand ready to assist the Afghan government to promote a time-bound,
well-resourced roadmap for the return of the Afghan refugees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Underlining that infrastructure development and regional connectivity is a key to Afghan economic growth and stability, he said adding that together, Pakistan and Afghanistan, naturally link Central Asia to the Eurasian Heartland and to the Arabian Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan, he said, would continue to work closely with its partners for the completion of the regional connectivity projects, including CASA-1000, TAPI gas pipeline and to facilitate trade to and from Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afghanistan\u2019s participation in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, would also improve infrastructure, stimulate socio-economic growth, help eradicate poverty and boost regional trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, Ambassador Akram reiterated Pakistan\u2019s support for a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan told a United Nations briefing on Afghanistan Tuesday that turning back from the ongoing Afghan peace process would be a tragedy, especially after making \u201csubstantial progress\u201d towards a political solution to the country\u2019s conflict, even though difficulties remain. \u201cIt would be a […]<\/p>\n
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