Amid the turmoil caused by Taliban in the war-torn Afghanistan, the Afghanistan President recently slammed its neighbour Pakistan and claimed 10,000 Jihadis entered into Afghanistan from Pakistan. Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani claimed that its neighbour has not ended its channels with terror groups. Interestingly his statements came while the current Pakistan PM Imran Khan was sharing stage with him at a conference.

Contents hide
1. Details
2. “Pakistan openly celebrating destructions of assets in Afghan”: Ghani
3. “Disappointed by the charges”: PM Imran Khan Responds
4. “Afghanistan Conflict will Affect Pak Most”
5. “Blaming Pakistan Unfair”: Pak PM
6. Pakistan Blocking Afghanistan Connectivity
7. “Real issues are of mindsets, not disputes”: S. Jaishankar

Details

As the Islamic Militant organization Taliban takes control of more borders and more provinces in Afghanistan amid the absence of US troops, the country’s president came down hard on Pakistan. In his speech at the International Conference held at Tashkent, Ghani said how over 10,000 ‘Jihadi’ fighters have crossed Afghanistan from Pakistan and that Pakistan government has been unsuccessful in convincing the Taliban to adhere to the peace talk.

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“Pakistan openly celebrating destructions of assets in Afghan”: Ghani

At the International Conference on South Asia-Central Asia Regional Connectivity-Challenges and Opportunities, the Afghanistan President was quoted saying-

“Contrary to repeated assurances by Prime Minister Khan and his Generals that Pakistan does not find a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in Pakistan’s interest and short of use of force will use its power and influence to make the Taliban negotiate seriously, networks and organizations supporting the Taliban are openly celebrating the destruction of the assets and capabilities of the Afghan people and State.”

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“Disappointed by the charges”: PM Imran Khan Responds

The President’s statement against the Pakistan government’s failure was heard by the rattled Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan who was sitting just a few feet away from Ghani. Khan responded to the allegations made by Ghani when he got the chance to say his part. Khan claimed how he was “disappointed” by the charges of Pakistan playing a “negative role” in the current conflict that were made by Ghani.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the country which will be most adversely affected by the conflict in Afghanistan will be Pakistan. Claiming that the last thing the country wants is more conflict as Pakistan has suffered over 70,000 casualties in the past 15 years.

“Afghanistan Conflict will Affect Pak Most”

Addressing the Afghani President Ghani directly, Pakistan PM Imran Khan was quoted saying-

“President Ghani, the country that is going to be most affected by turmoil in Afghanistan is Pakistan. Pakistan suffered 70,000 casualties in the last 15 years. The last thing Pakistan wants is more conflict.”

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“Blaming Pakistan Unfair”: Pak PM

He further added-

“I can assure you that no country has tried harder to get Taliban on the dialogue table than Pakistan. We have taken all action short of taking military action, and every effort to bring them to the dialogue table and have a peaceful settlement there, and to blame Pakistan for what is going on in Afghanistan is extremely unfair.”

Pakistan Blocking Afghanistan Connectivity

Meanwhile, at the conference, Indian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. S. Jaishankar also shared his insight on the matter and claimed that Pakistan has been blocking the connectivity with Afghanistan which is landlocked. Jaishankar claimed that regional cooperation is a paramount factor for economic growth other than connectivity, contacts and commerce.

Coming down hard on Pakistan, the Indian foreign Minister said how Pakistan has not been allowing India overland transit for trade with Afghanistan. Mr. Jaishankar said how the real issues are not of disputes, but are of mindsets. Further, he also said how blocking connectivity can benefit no one.

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“Real issues are of mindsets, not disputes”: S. Jaishankar

“The challenge we face is that politics, vested interests and instability can be formidable impediments to its realization. There are lessons too from our experiences that need to be understood. The real issues are of mindsets, not of disputes. Blocking connectivity in practice while professing support in principle benefits no one. A one-sided view of trade rights and obligations can never work. No serious connectivity can ever be a one-way street,”

-Mr. Jaishankar said, as quoted by ANI.

Giving his perspective on the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, Mr. Jaishankar had also said how it is only peace negotiations that are the answer to the situations where there are instances of “seizure by violence and fear”.