The Beyond Boundaries II delegates of Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC) held a meeting with Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz on Friday October 21, 2016, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by the CRSS and WPSO representatives. Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director CRSS briefed Aziz on the Beyond Boundaries project and the first meeting of PAJC held in Lahore on October 19, 2016, giving him a rundown of the issues that were discussed between the groups; security and peace, media, visas, education, culture and sports, trade and refugees. He further added that the groups will be sharing the policy recommendations that were formulated from the discussions on these important bilateral issues. Ms. Wazhma Frogh introduced the Afghan delegates and thanked Aziz for meeting with the groups.
Sartaj Aziz welcomed the PAJC delegates and said that Pakistan government had no favorites in Afghanistan and will follow the priorities that elected government in Kabul determines for pursuing peace and reconciliation.
Welcoming the deal between the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Hezbe Islami, Aziz said this agreement seems to have motivated and encouraged other groups to come to talks. He also welcomed unanimity of approach on the peace process within Kabul and hoped it would encourage all parties to join the process, adding: “These groups should realize that it is a different Afghanistan that wants peace and where the dominant majority would like to go back to the past. Our message to all the combatants is also loud and clear; nobody can capture Afghanistan on its own anymore and the key to peace lies in talks. We desire that both the NUG and the Taliban sort our issues among themselves and we will stand by them for any support we can lend to the process. Pakistan is doing whatever it can to persuade all Taliban factions to become part of the peace process and indications are that many of them are now interested in joining the process”.
He emphasized the need for establishing the rail link on a priority basis for exporting the Afghan minerals. Aziz said he had good discussions with President Ghani at Brussels and both agreed to work for developing projects and improving road connectivity. While speaking on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he assured the Afghan delegates that Pakistan will integrate Afghanistan too as part of the vision for regional connectivity.
Sartaj Aziz informed the Afghan delegates of Beyond Boundaries that the government was reviewing its visa policy to facilitate the cross-border movement of people and was considering long-term visas for those Afghans who own properties or have established businesses in Pakistan.
Afghan delegate Sayed Ishaq Gailani informed Sartaj Aziz that tis time they were surprised with a new restriction on the visas for Afghan citizens; Passports are being stamped “Not allowed in Cantonment and restricted areas”; thus they faced difficulties in their visit to Lahore. Aziz said he was not aware of any such restrictions but promised to look into any restrictions barring Afghans from visiting cantonment areas. Talking about the Afghan Refugees, he also reassured the Afghan delegation that the issue of voluntary repatriation is being pursued with compassion by Pakistan government, in view of various difficulties faced by the returning Afghan refugees in Afghanistan. “Pakistan has also offered to provide food rations for three years to all those returnees who don’t find a job and would be staying at resettlement camps”, he added.
Imtiaz Gul presented Aziz the policy recommendations from the first meeting to Sartaj on behalf of the two groups.
