Afghanistan-India nexus against Pakistan was out in the open at an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Friday where Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ghulam M Isaczai peddled a false narrative by levelling baseless allegations against Pakistan.
India played its part by denying Pakistan the opportunity to address the Council and present its point of view.
The meeting was called after Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar spoke to India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the wake of Taliban’s assault on major cities.
There is no doubt in saying that both sides deliberately arranged the meeting for no other purpose but to malign and defame Pakistan at the international forum.
Had they been sincere to discuss the Afghan situation, Pakistan being a close neighbouring country contributing immensely to Afghan peace process, would not have denied an opportunity to speak on deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
As also stated by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram at a news conference in New York that any fairness cannot be expected from the Indian presidency.
However, the Afghan delegate should not have put the burden of failure of its government and security forces on Pakistan.
On several occasions, Pakistan has made it emphatically clear that it has no favourites or siding with any particular group, and that it will never allow its territory used against Afghanistan.
Rather the acts of terrorism in Pakistan clearly suggest it is the Afghan territory that is being used against us.
There are no two opinions or any doubts now that India is supporting and financing terrorist groups based in Afghanistan to perpetrate acts of terrorism inside Pakistan.
Several international reports including those of the UN and the US endorse this very fact.
As regards Afghanistan, Pakistan has always shown its goodwill and hospitality towards the Afghan people.
Apart from hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the last many decades, its constructive efforts led to achieving important milestones in the Doha peace process, including the US-Taliban peace agreement and the subsequent commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations.
It is however lamentable that the Afghan government has always resorted to blame game for failures of its own.
If the Afghan government is unable to counter onslaught of the Taliban, what Pakistan can do except to ask both the warring parties to pursue the course of dialogue for peaceful settlement? Pakistan cannot put the Afghan house in order if parties are not willing to do so.
Pakistan or any other country can only encourage and facilitate them to move towards peace. Final decision rests with the Afghan parties.
In fact it has become crystal clear now that Afghan government officials are playing in the hands of India which is only a spoiler and does not want return of peace to the war torn country for its own vested interests.
To put the facts straight, Pakistan should, in a comprehensive and categorical manner, present before the UN Security Council members its position regarding Afghan situation and the spoiler role being played by India.
The people of Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoy historic relations deep rooted in common faith and culture.
However the very acts of Afghan leadership at the behest of India are putting these relations at stake.
Time has come for Pakistan to take a bold stance that until and unless the Afghan side stops its rhetoric and baseless allegations, it will not sit with Afghan government for any talks.
Decision of not holding any engagement with Afghan National Security Adviser was right and it must be expanded to the entire Afghan leadership until they correct their course.
It is for major capitals including Washington, Beijing and Moscow to use their influence on both parties to shun violence and sit together for a political settlement that is comprehensive and inclusive to give a healing touch to wounds of Afghan people.
Both the parties will have to demonstrate flexibility in their stance to take their country towards normalisation.
