ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, called upon Pakistan and the banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to engage in dialogue as terrorism continues to inflict casualties in Pakistan.
Muttaqi made this appeal during an event in Islamabad on Monday, where he emphasized the need for both parties to sit together and address the escalating violence.
During his four-day visit to Pakistan, Muttaqi participated in bilateral and trilateral dialogues, focusing on the security situation in the region.
The Afghan minister expressed concerns over the deteriorating security conditions in Pakistan’s northern and southwestern provinces, leading to increased anger in Pakistan over the Taliban administration’s failure to control the TTP, responsible for the recent surge in terrorist activities.
Acknowledging the significant loss of life in Pakistan due to terrorism, Muttaqi recognized the country’s efforts in combating the menace, stating that Pakistan had lost 80,000 lives to terrorism in the past two decades.
He further emphasized that the challenges faced by Pakistan and Afghanistan were similar, and both countries should work together to overcome them and move towards a brighter future.
Highlighting Afghanistan’s interest in strengthening economic ties with Pakistan, Muttaqi underscored Pakistan’s importance as a focus of economic cooperation.
He noted that despite political differences, trade between the two nations has continued and expressed hope for further economic relations in the future. The closure of trade routes, he pointed out, would eliminate numerous employment opportunities for ordinary citizens.
Pakistan’s investment in Afghanistan’s energy reserves
Muttaqi proposed that Pakistan’s investment in Afghanistan’s energy reserves could significantly boost bilateral progress, suggesting that the potential for growth existed despite the political and economic challenges faced by both countries in recent years.
He also expressed the desire to maintain excellent relations with neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
The Afghan minister praised Pakistan’s efforts in promoting economic prosperity and connectivity in the region, emphasizing that Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan were based on cultural and religious ties.
Muttaqi highlighted the accomplishments of the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan, stating that they had overcome various challenges by the grace of Allah in their 20 months of governance.
In response to a question regarding women’s participation in the workforce, Muttaqi mentioned that Afghan women, including 1,000 women health workers, were actively engaged in various fields and studying in different madrassahs.
