On Thursday, March 30, 2017, the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Committee members met with National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. He warmly welcomed the Afghan delegates and said it was his “privilege to meet his sisters and brothers from Afghanistan.” He urged the delegation to feel free to discuss anything with him and said it was his second interaction with the group through the CRSS’ Beyond Boundaries project.
The NSA stated that the two countries are passing through difficult times but they have “a common future and belong to and with each other”. Hence, he said, “Pakistan and Afghanistan – the two of us – can really redefine and recast our future.” The primary aspect through which the two countries can shape their future is through creating a trade corridor via Afghanistan and ultimately reach other parts of the world, such as the Central Asian States. For this dream to become a great success, he emphasized on a stable Afghanistan, adding that “If Afghanistan is not peaceful, Pakistan is not peaceful and vice versa.”
He also stressed on the need to sit together to find a collective solution to Pakistan and Afghanistan’s bilateral problems. He commended the Afghan delegates for travelling to Pakistan to engage in constructive discussions and stated that the Pakistanis extended the same warm wishes for the Afghans. He reiterated that the two governments’ need to sit together and engage in a direct dialogue which is face to face rather and urged that they should not talk through the media.
Mr. Mozammil Shinwari thanked the NSA for arranging the time to meet with the PAJC members and said he was pleased to hear his heartwarming, candid and welcoming remarks. Next, Mr. Khalid Pashtoon talked about the 32 day border closure which, he said, had ignited an extremely adverse reaction in Afghans even if it was for Pakistan’s security reasons. Closing the border for 3 to 4 days, Mr. Khalid Pashtoon said, would have been understandable; however, closing it for such a long period has only resulted in more negativity among the Afghans.
In response to the NSA’s welcome speech, Mr. Abdul Hakeem Mujahid stated that the NSA’s words were very prudent, kind and warm; however, he said, the Afghans would appreciate if he can put them into action. He added that the Afghans were very grateful to Pakistan for hosting the Afghan refugees for 35 years and has always honored it. However, now the Afghans have begun to even forget this great hospitality shown by Pakistan. “Something went wrong somewhere,” he pointed out.
Ms. Elay Ershad stated that she felt honored and was grateful to the NSA for calling her his sister and hoped that this Track 2 initiative by CRSS would be taken forward by the media and for more people to people contact.
Ms. Anne Wilkens, former Ambassador of Sweden to Pakistan and Afghanistan, thanked CRSS for inviting her for the last two meetings of the Beyond Boundaries initiative. Having served as an Ambassador for Pakistan and Afghanistan, she said she found both countries dear to her. Sitting away from the two countries in Sweden now, she said she found it worrisome to see the present relationship between the two neighbors, especially as they are both capable of gaining so much by just working together. She added that she felt very encouraged after chairing the Beyond Boundaries sessions and interacting with the PAJC members, and commended the efforts of the group in trying to promote partnerships and more people to people contacts. She said that by working with the PAJC members for the last two dialogues, she was hopeful that such initiatives could result in improving the bilateral relations between the two countries.
After hearing the delegates’ positions, the NSA stated that war was not the solution and it would not give anyone any victory. What is required rather is an investment in peace through reconciliation. He added that the Taliban was the Afghans’ issue as they were their cousins and brothers and urged that the Afghans reconcile with them and also free Pakistan of the blame of supporting them. He further clarified that Pakistan has nothing to do with the Taliban and the Afghans should ask them regarding it. “They don’t belong with us. We only played our role by bringing Taliban on the table to honor President Ghani when he visited to meet the Government of Pakistan and requested us to play a reconciliation role,” he said.
He went on to say that this perpetual war has to come to an end. Seeing that no reconciliation is taking place between the Taliban and the Government of Afghanistan, it seems that it doesn’t suit some powers – maybe it doesn’t suit the USA, he said, or maybe it does not suit India? He questioned. “My biggest request to you and your government is to please reconcile with Taliban. We are worried for you. They have control over your rural and border areas. They will upsurge their violence this year starting with your spring offensive and unfortunately, we will be blamed again?” he asked.
Regarding Afghan refugees, the NSA stated that Pakistan has always remained warm hearted with its arms open. Both Pakistanis and Afghan refugees have grown up together, eaten together and studied together. However, now the issue of terrorism has become mixed up with the refugees and this provides for space to terrorists to regroup and attack the Afghans as well as the Pakistanis. “We have to rise beyond this bitterness, conflict and the blame-game to save the future of our children. The people of Afghanistan should rise and play a political role to oppose the war and to call for reconciliation,” he concluded while adding, “Blood is thicker than water and our forefathers were the same.”
As a final note, Mr. Khalid Pashtoon from Afghanistan stated that the Afghan delegation will pass on his message to the Afghan Government and the Afghan people as coming from a top Pakistani government official.
The PAJC members presented and shared with NSA Janjua the final joint declaration of policy recommendations of “Beyond Boundaries” 6th PAJC meeting.