ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf on Friday criticized the United States for making the mistakes of the past by leaving Afghanistan without waiting for a political settlement in that country.
“The Afghans have now been left on their own to fight among themselves,” he said in an interview to the Voice of America (VOA). “It’s fine [for some] if the region remains unstable. However, this is exactly the mistake the world made in the 1990s and pledged not to repeat it again.”
The American international broadcaster shared excerpts of the interview which is yet to be aired on its website and social media accounts.
Yusuf acknowledged that the US had heavily invested in Afghanistan and would not want the situation to deteriorate in that country. However, he maintained it was tragic that history was repeating itself in the region.
Pakistan’s top officials have raised concerns about the Afghan security situation and maintained that the world could witness another civil war in their neighboring state.
The country has also urged the United States to wait for an inclusive power-sharing agreement in Afghanistan before making an exit from the region.
However, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that US military operations would end on August 31 while defending his administration’s decision to withdraw its troops from the war-battered country after a span of two decades.
“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build,” the American president said in a recent speech. “Afghan leaders have to come together and drive toward a future.”
The Pakistani NSA, however, said the US was not pulling out its forces responsibly since the hasty withdrawal could result in greater regional instability.
He noted that his country would continue its efforts for peace in Afghanistan, though he added that factional fighting in the neighboring state should concern all international stakeholders.
Yusuf also highlighted Pakistan’s precarious position with reference to Afghanistan.
“We were accused of interfering [in Afghan domestic affairs] when we used to offer them advice [in the past],” he said. “Now that Pakistan has stopped advising them at all, we are blamed for not doing enough [for peace in that country].”
He added it was not right to criticize Pakistan for the international community’s failures in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani NSA pointed out that his country had invested a great deal of energy in Afghan peace efforts, yet it was only asked to “do more” by the United States in return.
He pointed out that Islamabad was willing to work with Washington, though it desired to broaden its relations with the US after turning geoeconomics into the central pillar of its international engagements.
Asked about the possibility of accommodating more Afghan refugees in case of factional fighting in that country, Yusuf said it would not be possible due to Pakistan’s security concerns.
He continued that India had been using the Afghan soil to launch terrorist operations in his country, adding that militant elements could also enter Pakistan if more refugees were allowed in the coming days.
Pakistan’s NSA criticizes United States for repeating past mistakes in Afghanistan
https://arab.news/yjy5k
Pakistan’s NSA criticizes United States for repeating past mistakes in Afghanistan
- Moeed Yusuf says the US decision to pull out its forces without a power-sharing agreement in Afghanistan could lead to regional instability
- The Pakistani NSA maintains his country will not be able to accommodate Afghan refugees in case of a civil war due to its own security concerns
Pakistan plans 3,000 EV charging stations as green mobility push gathers pace
- Roadmap unveiled by energy efficiency regulator and a private conglomerate amid early-stage EV rollout
- New EV Policy and related plans aim to install 3,000 EV stations by 2030, including 240 stations in current fiscal year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s energy efficiency regulator and a private conglomerate have unveiled an approved roadmap to establish 3,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Tuesday.
The announcement comes as Pakistan looks to build out basic EV charging infrastructure, which remains limited and unevenly distributed, largely concentrated in major cities. Despite policy commitments to promote electric mobility as part of climate and energy-efficiency goals, the absence of a nationwide charging network has slowed broader EV adoption.
Pakistan’s EV ecosystem is still at a formative stage, with progress constrained by regulatory approvals, grid connectivity issues and coordination challenges among utilities, regulators and fuel retailers. Expanding charging infrastructure is widely seen as a prerequisite for scaling electric transport for both private and commercial use.
According to APP, the roadmap was presented during a meeting between Malik Group Chief Executive Officer Malik Khuda Baksh and National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Managing Director and Additional Secretary Humayon Khan.
“Baksh ... in a meeting with Khan, unveiled the approved roadmap for establishing 3,000 electric vehicle charging stations across Pakistan,” APP reported. “Khan reaffirmed the authority’s full institutional backing and pledged to expand the initiative to 6,000 EV charging stations nationwide.”
The discussion reviewed hurdles delaying the rollout, including EV charger imports, customs duties, regulatory documentation and inter-agency coordination.
APP said Khan welcomed the proposal and sought recommendations for “internationally compliant EV charger brands,” while asking for a detailed “issue-and-solutions report within three days” to facilitate timely implementation of the national green mobility initiative.
Despite the issuance of 13 licenses by NEECA and the arrival of five EV charging units at designated sites, progress has been slowed by procedural bottlenecks, officials said. These include delays in electricity connections, prolonged installation of separate meters and pending no-objection certificates from power distribution companies and oil marketing firms, which continue to stall operational readiness.
Pakistan’s electric vehicle ecosystem is still in its early stages, with charging infrastructure far behind levels seen in more advanced markets. The government’s New Energy Vehicle Policy and related plans aim to install 3,000 EV charging stations by 2030, including 240 stations planned in the current fiscal year, but actual deployment remains limited and uneven, mostly clustered in major cities and along key urban corridors.
Despite regulatory backing, including the 2024 Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure and Battery Swapping Stations framework, progress has been slow. Many proposed stations have yet to become operational due to delays in grid connections and approvals, and public maps of nationwide charging coverage are not yet available.
Private players are beginning to install more chargers, and there are over 20 public EV charging points reported in urban centers, offering both slower AC chargers and faster DC options. However, such infrastructure is still sparse compared with the growing number of electric vehicles and the government’s long-term targets.
