Islamabad: On the second day of Two-day Pakistan-Afghanistan Bilateral Conference 2013 that was started here on December 13, 2013 in Islamabad, participants urged people to people contact between two countries and follow recommendations of Joint Grand Jirga that was held in Kabul in year 2007.
Sartaj Azia Advisor to prime minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs while addressing at second day shared the guidelines Pakistan government is working on to stabilise situation in post ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was of the view that smooth transition in Afghanistan is must and transition has opportunities and threats together and Pakistan consider this transition in three including security, political and economic transition and Pakistan believes that no other country should try to fill security vacuum during transition. He was of the view that April 2014 Afghan elections are very for region and these elections must held timely and transparently. He maintained that economic vacuum will negative impact on security situation in Afghanistan as the country has 90% dependence foreign funding to run security agencies including Afghan police and army.
He hoped that international commitments taken by the world will be fulfilled and Afghanistan will continue to get financial assistance from world bodies till year 2017. Sartaj Aziz added that 30,000 afghan students are studying in Pakistani institutions.
Talking about reconciliation process, he openly accepted that reconciliation process is slow and inconclusive. “Pakistan is working on Tapi Gas pipeline to benefit Afghanistan and Pakistan is ready to adopt policy of not interfering in afghan issues but other countries should avoid playing proxy wars in Afghanistan. Taliban are not agreed for reconciliation and fighting can spill out in neighbouring countries and peace process is possible when Taliban are ready for peace”, he concluded.
Wadir Safi head of Afghan delegation at SAFMA conference during his address explained historic perspective of old silk road and indicated that Silk Road brought opportunities to Afghan nation historically and this route should work again once peace is maintained in the region. He said that Afghanistan had a strong economy in the shape of mining, agriculture and horticulture but three decades of war have collapsed all industries and economical institutions. He emphasised Pak-afghan forums should be established and both countries should prepare a joint strategic plan for development of industry and trade I Afghanistan.
Aftab Khan Sharpao former federal minister for interior Pakistan said that both the countries have to prepare for post ISAF forces withdrawal situation but he indicated that both countries had no clear strategy in this regard. “We wish genuine leadership out of next Afghan elections and trust deficit between the two countries must be addressed and removed. Key elements include Pakistan should consider Afghanistan as a sovereign country”, said Sharpao.
Brig (retd) Asad Munir (defense analyst Pakistan) discussed reasons of trust deficit between two countries and historic perspective of Pak-Afghan relations. He was of the view that the theory and policy of Afghan-Russo war (Jihad) had ruined the entire region and this policy was wrong and error of judgement of Pakistan.
Former Air Vice Martial of Pakistan Air Force Shahzad in his speech demanded Afghanistan to ensure a save neighbourhood for Pakistan and he stated that both countries have serious challenges and they must deal with them jointly. “Afghanistan cannot face and deal with dirt thrown by foreign countries including Pakistan ad United States in its society during the past 35 years and these countries must be involve in social reconstruction of Afghanistan”, Shahzad said.
Khadim Hussian senior journalist talked about the need of research exchange program, cultural exchange program, exchange of trade delegations between both countries.
Fazal Elahi Shafiqi editor Weesa and advisor of Afghan government should forget past and start a new era of relationship based on equal level of respect for each other.
Senator Farhatullah Babur appreciated SAFMA for holding Afpak dialogue and said that people of both sides wanted to continue dialogue irrespective of bitter past. “How to contain militancy and promote reconciliation between two countries are major issues the region is facing. Post 2014 ISAF withdrawal from Afghanistan is a very serious issue and there are two scenarios —-Afghan people stand on their feet with a prosper country and second scenario is that Afghan people again start fighting among them as they did after the withdrawal of former Soviet Union and then this country will become the most dangerous country for whole region rather whole world”, Babur added.
Speakers including Nargis Nehan director Equality for Peace and Democracy, Khalid Pashtoon member Wolesi Jirga Afghanistan, Dr. Hassan Askrai, Abdul Sattar Purdeli, head of Mahmud Tarzi Think Tank Kabul and Lt Gen (retd) Talat Masood were of the view that appointment of Mullah Fazlurhaah as TTP chief is a dramatic twist in relations between the two countries because Mullah Fazlullah is residing in Afghanistan. They also discussed that border management and strengthen of Afghan national army and police and constant contact between the military leadership of both the countries is must to deal with terrorism in the region. Afghan delegates were of the opinion that political forces (political governments) must get the hold of foreign policies of their countries instead foreign policies keep ruled by military leadership. Structural management is needed and SAARC and SCO should also be involved in tailoring strategy for peace in the region.
