KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said that Pakistan will notsupport the return of the Afghan Taliban to power after the US troop’swithdrawal.
Concerns are growing about the Afghan military’s ability to defend thecapital and other areas under its control without the support of theinternational troops. Over the last few days, the Taliban have overrun amajor military base and also captured a strategic district close to Kabul.
Ghani’s statement came days after Pakistan’s army chief Gen Qamar JavedBajwa’s recent visit to Kabul. “Pakistan’s army, in utter clarity,announced that the revival of Islamic Emirate is not in Pakistan’s nationalinterest,” Ghani said.
“Afghanistan’s peace and stability means peace and stability in theregion,” he said, adding General Bajwa committed his support for “therepublic” — which is the current government in Kabul. Pakistan andAfghanistan’s relationship remained tense as the former has been accused ofsupporting the Taliban.
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However, Pakistan has played a credible role in the ongoing Afghan peaceprocess. The ongoing rapprochement between Pakistan and Afghanistan is theresult of Pakistan’s contributions to the peace process. “Pakistan is alsonot keen on seeing an extremist ideology taking root in Afghanistan. Itrepresents a risk for the generals and Pakistan’s democracy as well,” ToreqFarhadi, a former adviser to the Afghan government, told Arab News.“Pakistan wants a political settlement in Afghanistan where Taliban can bepart of the governing structure and opposes a total takeover of power bythe Taliban.”
