The Beyond Boundaries Pakistan and Afghan PAJC delegations held a meeting with the Foreign Secretary (FS), Government of Pakistan, Ms. Tehmina Janjua, on September 07, at Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additional Secretary and DG Afghanistan Dr. Muhemmed Aejaz, and Director Afghanistan, Mr. Yasir Hussain were also present during the meeting.
Speaking to the two delegations, Ms. Janjua said “We have had a long history of sufferings. It is important that the people of two countries see peace and its benefits. We are happy to see APAPPS as a mechanism of bilateral relations to move forward towards peace & reconciliation. We had our first meeting of all five groups in Kabul on 22nd July; there are similarities of ideas and thoughts. We are hopeful that APAPPS agreement will help us move forward, as there is political will of the two governments, and leadership of both governments. She further added: “we support the Afghan Parliamentary Elections coming up on 20 October and hope the elections are held peacefully”. She told the two delegations: “the most important thing for the APAPPS is we need to have senior leadership visits from both sides, as well as the people-to-people contacts should also continue; like your Beyond Boundaries track II initiative”.
The Foreign Secretary told the delegations: “we very strongly supported the pace ceasefire and we welcomed President Ashraf Ghani’s offer to the Taliban for peace and reconciliation. We also made a strong statement on the second peace ceasefire, but the Taliban did not accept the offer by President Ghani, and unfortunately terrorist attacks have continued; which we have very strongly condemned”.
She further added with reference to the general elections held in Pakistan on 25 July: “we on our side unfortunately also lost three leaders who were contesting elections during the campaign for the general elections”.
She mentioned that the former Prime Minister Abbasi had visited Kabul twice, and there had been reciprocal ministerial visits to Islamabad. She added that as as far as Pakistan is concerned, we are committed to peace in Afghanistan and we are whole heartedly willing to work together for peace and stability, and we will try our best- as much as possible- to achieve peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan; we are ready to work with you, ready to go as far as we can. We would like that the Afghan government and leadership should be finally talking to Taliban for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Speaking on the border fencing and management issue, she said: “we believe border management can be a very effective measure to counter terrorism, for our side, as well as for your side also. We wish you success, first in the Parliamentary elections and then in then in the Presidential elections next year.
Mr. Mozammil Shinwari from the Afghan delegation said: “we hope that the new foreign minister, Mr. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, will visit Afghanistan soon, and the bilateral relations can be improved further”. He thanked the Foreign Secretary for taking time out to meet with the visiting Afghan delegation. He also thanked the DG Afghanistan Dr Aejaz for participating and meeting with the two delegations during their Beyond Boundaries dialogue held at Serena on September 06.
Mr. Shinwari asked the FS that whether the Afghan parliamentary elections this October and presidential elections next year will affect APAPPS or the bilateral relations?
Mr. Khalid Pashtoon, head of the Afghan delegation said: “the aim of CRSS led Beyond Boundaries track 1.5/II project is to continue people-to-people contact at unofficial level and discuss the policies of both the governments, eventually aimed to bridge the gap”.
The FS, Ms Janjua, replied by saying: “we have such good connections with each other between the two countries at people-to-people level including your initiative which can certainly bridge the gap. But, if all the blame is put on Pakistan, then the confidence will not increase; this distrust has to stop. The blame game on Pakistan particularly by the Trump administration and also supported by Afghan government must end.
While concluding the meeting and addressing the Afghan delegation she told them: “you are leaving tomorrow. Please take a message from Pakistan to the people of Afghanistan that peace in Afghanistan is important and vital for Pakistan; we feel for the sufferings of Afghan people. Please convey our deepest support to the people of Afghanistan”.
