PM Imran Khan remarks: Afghanistan summons its ambassador to Pakistan

Over the remarks by Prime Minister Imran Khan suggesting Kabul should set up an interim government, Afghanistan has summoned its ambassador to Pakistan and declared the comments “irresponsible”.

Prime Minister had told journalists on Monday that forming an interim Afghan government would smooth peace talks between the United States and Taliban officials since the militant group refuses to speak to the current government, according to comments published in The Express Tribune.

Afghan government was a hurdle in (the) peace process that was insisting that Taliban should talk to it, Prime Minister Khan was quoted as saying. He also said he had cancelled a scheduled meeting with Taliban leaders because of objections by the Afghan government.

Afghan government summoned Pakistan’s deputy ambassador to discuss the “irresponsible” remarks by Prime Minister Khan, said Afghan foreign affairs ministry spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi in a series of tweets on Tuesday.

Ahmadi said that Afghan government deemed Khan’s statements as “an obvious example of Pakistan’s interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan.” A statement issued by the Afghan embassy confirmed the development.

The row marks the third time in just over a month that Kabul has demanded an explanation from Pakistan over comments related to peace talks, illustrating the flaring tensions between the two neighbours at a sensitive time.

US and Taliban officials have held recurring talks to end the 17-year war, but the Taliban consider the Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani as illegitimate.

Ghani’s mandate expires in May, and pressure is mounting on him to step down before the next presidential election, scheduled for September 28. Ghani has rejected the idea of an interim government. Agencies

 

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