ISLAMABAD: Any possible deal with the Taliban and potential repercussions or fallout of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan remained a common concern and hence a reason for cooperation between the US higher-ups and Pakistani officials during their ministerial level strategic dialogue.
While the Americans seek Pakistan’s help to bring the Afghan Taliban to talks, the Pakistani side had its own cautious yet confusing take regarding the post-2014 scenario in the region.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s adviser for National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, led the delegation that included Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Secretary Interior, Foreign Secretary and others.
Sartaj emphasised that Pakistan believes in non-interference in Afghan affairs. The joint statement issued after Kerry-Sartaj meeting noted: “Both sides reiterated their call on the Taliban to join the political process and enter into dialogue with the Afghan government.”
Although Pakistan offered to do what it could in this regard, Sartaj Aziz was sceptical. In both his public and private meetings he mentioned that the Afghan Taliban were unwilling to cooperate with the Karzai government hoping that it might happen after a fair round of presidential elections in Afghanistan.
He rejected any possibility that a civil war could break out in Afghanistan. Speaking at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Sartaj said: “I would not like to predict a civil war. I think our expectation is that if the present status quo system continues in which elections take place and new government comes in, manageable insurgency as it is going on now, Afghan security forces are there, the Northern Alliance is much stronger than it was before, so the possibility of being overrun by the Taliban is not really likely.”
He, however, was worried too that pressure on Pak-Afghan border could rise once the western forces leave Afghanistan. The spill over, he hinted, could be problematic. Pakistan already has over three million Afghan refugees, half of them registered.
Meanwhile, approximately 100,000 Afghans cross into Pakistan every day. He insisted that Pakistan has no intention to support any particular group in Afghanistan. He said the Afghan Taliban could join hands with the TTP in Pakistan, which could prove disastrous. He, then, stressed the need to monitor the Afghan-Pakistan border.
At another event he reiterated the Nawaz government’s commitment to facilitate an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process to restore peace and stability in that country.
He also highlighted some of the steps taken by the government that had resulted in improvements in ties with Afghanistan.
On internal security situation Sartaj said that the Pakistani government will announce a comprehensive counter-terrorism policy soon. INTERNEWS
