During the visit to Kabul of the Beyond Boundaries a Pak-Afghan track II series of dialogues and outreach for the project’s Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC), as part of outreach and university interaction planned for the group, three members from the PAJC visited Rana University on 25 June, 2018.
The Pakistani distinguished member speakers were Ms. Seema Baloch, former ambassador, and Mr. Tahir Khan, senior journalist, while, distinguished member of the Afghan PAJC Mr. Mozammil Shinwari, Advisor to CEO represented Afghanistan, for a discussion forum on “Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations”. The CRSS was represented by Aized Ali, project Director Beyond Boundaries.
The PAJC group was greeted and welcomed by the Vice Chancellor (Academics) of Rana University, Mr. Mustafa Saidi. He thanked the organizers (CRSS & OESP) to have arranged such important interaction for the students of university to talk about Pak-Afghan relations and understand better with an open mind and neutral perspective. He said Rana University always stands as a torch bearer in addressing the challenges encountered by its students and leads in broadening the knowledge and information horizon of its students to keep abreast with the modern world. In this connection, they have today arranged this Discussion Forum for its Political Science, Law and BBA students with dignitaries from Pakistan and Afghanistan, he added.
About 100 plus male and female students from the above mentioned faculties participated in the dialogue which comprised presentations by the three distinguished members/speakers, followed by an interactive Question and Answer (Q & A) session.
Speaking first from the Afghan side, Mr. Mozammil Shinwari thanked the faculty of Rana University for inviting the PAJC members. He introduced the panel of speakers and briefed about Beyond Boundaries an important track 1.5/II initiative for public to public dialogue. He said we have taken this initiative to keep unofficial channels open and to lobby and meet with high officials of both governments, sharing our policy recommendations from PAJC dialogues – to help policy making- for the betterment of bilateral relations. He spoke about the issues of Afghan refugees, concessions on visa regime, and bilateral and transit trade. He said that Beyond Boundaries through its policy recommendations have been discussing and taking up these issues with both the governments. He requested the students to feel free to ask any questions regarding Pak-Afghan relations, the panelists will be happy to give their point of view.
Ms. Seema Baloch, speaking from the Pakistan side, related her experience when she had first visited Afghanistan in 1968, which she had very fond memories of. She said later when the Soviet’s had invaded Afghanistan in 1979; Pakistan openly and whole heartedly welcomed and hosted about four million Afghan refugees. But, what happened between 1979 to date, our relations have had so many ups and downs- problems, hurdles, accusations, distrust etc. – we hope that now that we will have a chance to promote peace and friendship. The recent bilateral framework APAPPS, was signed on 14 May, 2018, which has resulted in formation of five joint working groups; peace and reconciliation, trade and economic, refugees, military to military cooperation, and political diplomatic dialogue groups. I think once the groups are operational and meeting frequently, which will be an on-going bilateral framework and mechanism. We feel that the APAPPS bilateral framework is a step in the right direction.
Mr. Tahir Khan, Pak PAJC member, spoke about the role of media in Pak-Afghan relations. He said it is important that media houses and newspapers should have access in both countries, which will help the respective narratives- be it positive or negative- to reach out to general masses. He said that media should play a constructive role in highlighting positive developments rather than focussing on state positions of accusations and counter accusations, blame games, and distrust. He further said that the youth, who are the future leaders and can become the ambassadors of peace, should use the social media network platform positively to emanate messages of peace and friendship between the two brotherly countries, rather than rivalry based on stated positions. Speaking on Pak-Afghan bilateral relations, he said that there is a general impression in Afghanistan that Pakistan has not fulfilled its promises made in the past. But, this time we have a renewed hope of APAPPS; hopefully which will be an on-0going framework to work bilaterally on all critical issues and work jointly towards solution and resolution.
A Question and Answer session was held at the end of the discussion forum in which the students of Rana University asked questions in a free and friendly environment. The questions were mainly related to the previous and current conflicts, controversies and distrust prevailing almost for decades between the two countries. The distinguished panelists answered all the questions to the optimum satisfaction of the students and unilaterally voiced the importance of peace in both the countries. At the end of the discussion forum Mementos and appreciation letter were presented to the venerated dignitaries.
A university survey was also administered with the participating students and faculty members – post the lectures by PAJC members – to gauge the improvement in their perceptions on the other side; understanding of the challenges of Pak-Afghan relations, and awareness about the socio-political conditions in both countries.
