ISLAMABAD: Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said on Monday a new Afghan government led by the insurgent group would resolve all issues of concern to Pakistan, local media reported.
There is growing fear among Pakistani officials about security in neighboring Afghanistan, as the Taliban tries to form a government and stabilize the country following the departure of US and other foreign forces.
Islamabad is particularly worried about militant fighters from a separate, Pakistani Taliban group crossing from Afghanistan and launching lethal attacks on its territory. Thousands of Pakistanis have been killed in militant violence in the last two decades.
At least three Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in a suicide attack in the southwest last Sunday, part of a spike in attacks on security forces in recent weeks as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban.
The Pakistani Taliban, many of whose leaders and foot soldiers are believed to live in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.
“Pakistan’s concerns as a neighboring country are valid,” Mujahid was quoted by Geo News as saying at a press conference. “Afghanistan’s land will not be used against any country, including Pakistan,” he added.
Mujahid said Afghanistan wanted to engage in economic activity with other nations and was keen to be part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has seen Beijing pledge over $60 billion for energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan, central to China’s wider Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to develop land and sea trade routes in Asia and beyond.
Speaking about a future political setup, Mujahid said an “interim” system of government would first be announced in Afghanistan to allow for changes.
“Final decisions have been taken, we are now working on technical issues,” he said. “We will announce the new government as soon as the technical issues are resolved.”
The Taliban have reportedly invited leaders from Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, China, Russia and Qatar to attend the ceremony when the group announces its government.
A key issue for the Taliban is the reopening of the airport in Kabul, which was the scene of a massive US-led evacuation plan that ended last week.
Qatar has been working with the Taliban on getting the airport back up and running, and Mujahid said “serious efforts” were under way to restore operations.
“Technical teams from Qatar, Turkey and UAE are working hard to repair the equipment,” he said, adding that international flights will resume “soon.”
He said that “Afghanistan has the right to be recognized ... The international community should open their embassies in Kabul.”
Will ‘resolve’ Pakistan’s concerns, Taliban say after announcing Panjshir victory
https://arab.news/c2krp
Will ‘resolve’ Pakistan’s concerns, Taliban say after announcing Panjshir victory
- There is growing concern among Pakistani officials about security in neighboring Afghanistan
- Taliban say keen for Afghanistan to be part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
Pakistan engages Saudi Arabia, China in bid to ease surging Middle East tensions
- Pakistan’s foreign minister stresses need for de-escalation in conversations with Chinese, Saudi counterparts
- Tensions in the Middle East continue to remain high as conflict between US, Israel and Iran intensifies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and China on Tuesday, stressing the importance of diplomatic engagement to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as the Iran war intensifies.
Pakistan has constantly engaged regional countries in efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Middle East, after the US and Isreal launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.
Iran launched fresh attacks on Gulf countries on Tuesday morning, where it has targeted US military bases in recent weeks. In addition to firing missiles and drones at Israel and American bases in the region, Iran has also been targeting energy infrastructure which, combined with its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, has sent oil prices soaring worldwide.
Dar spoke to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss developments in the Middle East and ongoing deliberations at the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement.
“DPM/FM shared Pakistan’s perspective, underscoring the importance of continued coordination and diplomatic engagement to support de-escalation and promote peace and stability across the region and beyond,” the statement said.
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, spoke to Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi over the telephone separately. The two discussed the evolving regional situation and broader global developments.
Dar underscored the need to ease tensions in the Middle East and the wider region during the conversation, the foreign office said.
Yi appreciated Pakistan’s constructive efforts aimed at promoting de-escalation and stability in the region, it added.
“The two leaders stressed the importance of de-escalation and emphasized the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter,” the foreign office’s statement said.
The conflict in the Middle East has hit Pakistan hard as well, forcing Islamabad to hike petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per liter last Friday.
Pakistan’s government has also announced a set of austerity measures, which include closing schools and cutting down on government expenditures, as it evaluates petrol stocks and looks for alternative supply routes.
