ISLAMABAD – Special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West on Tuesday saidWashington has no alternative but to work with Islamabad on the way aheadin war-torn Afghanistan.
Expressing his views at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, Westacknowledged the role of South Asian countries in arranging a peace dealwith the interim Afghan setup however he complained that Pakistan oftenignored some suggestions of Washington.
Pakistani leaders have huge expertise in their system on Afghan matters, hesaid while adding that they were in close contact with the Pakistanileadership during the Afghan peace process. West also acknowledgedIslamabad’s role in a peaceful settlement between the two sides.
Recalling troops’ withdrawal and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, he said,“If Pakistan had taken some steps in a meaningful and consistent way, wewould be in a better position today”.
He also pointed that Pakistan’s unwillingness on some issues irked Bidenadministration, although the two allies continued to support the Doha talksthat led to an agreement in 2020.
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“Now, it’s a mark of our pragmatism, in my view, that in Washington you arenot hearing leaders from across the spectrum spending time and energycriticizing Pakistan and looking backward,” the US envoy mentioned whileclarifying that Washington wants to continue its cooperation with SouthAsian country.
Last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan categorically said that Pakistan wouldabsolutely not allow any bases and use of its territory to the UnitedStates for any sort of action inside Kabul.
