Dr Muhammad Khan
IN the recent history of Pak-Afghan relationship, the three day visit of Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation is a great event and a welcoming step. Upon his arrival, Abdullah Abduallah tweeted, “Arrived in #Islamabad #Pakistan to begin a three-day official visit. During my stay, I will meet the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and exchange views on Afghanistan Peace, & bilateral relations.” Indeed, Dr Abdullah Abdullah is a lynchpin in Afghan politics and external relationship of Afghanistan. He is not only the leader of the former Northern Alliance but has acceptability among the Pashtun community, the dominant segment in Afghan society constituting over 50% population of this war torn country.
It is first time in the past two decades that Mr Abdullah has openly appreciated the role Pakistan played towards establishment of peace and stability of Afghanistan. He recognized that, Pakistan has facilitated the process “as a shared responsibility”. This is true that Pakistan considered peace and stability of Afghanistan as the most needed element for regional peace and especially for peace in Pakistan. During his three-day visit, Mr Abdullah Abdullah had crucial meetings with Pakistani leadership including Prime Minister Imran Khan. Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan in one of his Op-ed published in “The Washington Post” last week. Mr Khan even suggested a gradual and slow process for the pull-out of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. Indeed, any hasty withdrawal may provide an opportunity to the terrorist outfits like Daesh (ISIS) to destabilize the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Indeed, a hasty international withdrawal from Afghanistan would be “unwise”. It was a very difficult process of bringing Afghan Government and the Taliban on the negotiating table. Pakistan has played key role in this process. “We were able to press on thanks to the courage and flexibility that were on display from all sides.” After the peace deal between United States and Taliban signed on 29 February 2020, it was challenging to bring together Afghan Taliban and Kabul regime at Doha, Qatar.
During the past four decades (1980-2020) the people of Afghanistan have undergone untold sufferance; killings, migration, insecurity, foreign invasions, domestic unrest, political unrest, lack of peace and economic backwardness. Indeed, Afghanistan has been at the centre of global power politics in last four decades. It had overwhelmingly suffered during the great game between Tsarist Russia and British India in late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Soviet invasion and later US covert war against the (former) Soviet Union in 1980s had significantly affected the state and society of Afghanistan pushing millions of migrants in Pakistan. The global war on terror was the latest round of power politics, which further destabilised Afghan State for the vested interests of the superpower. All these wars and regional and international conspiracies left the country and its 33 million population in a state of uncertainty and economic destitution.
The people of Afghanistan are tired off foreign invasions and domestic conflicts. There are many countries still conspiring against peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan has always endeavoured for peace and stability in Afghanistan. With the same motivation, the Pakistani Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa had a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah during his day-long visit to Kabul on 9 June 2020. During the meeting Pakistan once again offered facilitation in the ongoing peace process between Afghan Government and Taliban. The visit of Dr Abdullah Abdullah is in fact outcome of the same meeting and invitation from General Bajwa.
Indeed, Taliban are very important stakeholders in Afghanistan and there cannot be any peace until this wider segment of Afghan society is taken on board. Then, if they can force the super power for negotiations and an agreement on their terms, Kabul regime cannot be exception. As per the statements issued from both sides, Islamabad and Kabul had reiterated that their soil will not be used against each other by a third country. “They also discussed that the soil of the two countries would not be used against each other.” General Bajwa vowed Pakistani support for the sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan based on its established democratic and political system.
President Ghani and his aide lauded the role played by Pakistan towards Afghan peace process. General Bajwa and his team assured Kabul that Pakistan is keen for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. Bajwa also communicated President Ghani and his team that Islamabad will render all out assistance for peace within Afghanistan. However, the initiative for establishment of peace has to be taken by Kabul; it has to be Afghan owned and Afghan led. During the visit Gen Bajwa was accompanied by DG, ISI, General Faiz, who indeed remained instrumental in brokering the peace deal between US and Taliban and later bringing Taliban and Afghan Government on negotiating table at Doha, Qatar. The visit of Dr Abdullah Abduallh has indeed, provided an opportunity for the improvement of Pak-Afghan bilateral relationship and wide-ranging exchanges between both brotherly states. It was a much awaited visit of this key Afghan leader. The visit will pave the way for renewed efforts for bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and strengthening Pak-Afghan bilateral relations. “Pakistan fully supports all efforts for peace, stability and prosperity of the Afghan people.”
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
