January 11, 2016: The democratic institutions and their decisions can have a great impact on Af-Pak bilateral relations. Afghanistan cannot be stable without stable Pakistan. Pakistan – under any circumstances – would not allow any sort of terrorism in Afghanistan. We should focus positively on building friendly relations between the two countries. Harsh statements by leaders create divide and should be avoided. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan should pursue dialogue as sovereign states. Electronic media should be utilized to neutralize the negative sentiments that exist on both sides.

These were the deliberations exchanged by the regional security experts from Afghanistan and Pakistan during their meetings with the political leaders at Senate of Pakistan including Chairman Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Awais Laghari, Chairman Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Senator Kamil Ali Agha and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) lawmaker Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

This meetings were organized as part of the initiative “Beyond Boundaries” – launched by the Center of Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – in partnership with its Afghan counterpart organization, DURAN Research and Analysis (DRA) and sub-national partner (Pakistan), the Foundation for Integrated Development Action (FIDA) – a major Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II dialogue, as part of efforts to help improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Chairman Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that Afghanistan was a brotherly country and thus they did not consider it as a foreign country. He also said that National Assembly and Senate were willing to address any issues of bilateral nature that could be solved at their level.  Mr. Mirwais Yasini, First Deputy Speaker, Lower House of Afghan Parliament highlighted the issues of transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan and asked the Pakistani Parliament to facilitate their transit trade for Pakistan. Ms. Wazhma Frogh, Founding Director, Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Afghanistan underscored the need for utilizing electronic media to neutralize the negative sentiments that exist on both sides. Former Sindh inspector general (IG) of police Dr. Shoaib Suddle who was present on the occasion as delegation member from Pakistan side said that there was an issue of narrative on both. He added that – having closely monitored transit issues as Federal Tax Ombudsman – there was a need to facilitate honest traders. “Smuggling in disguise is a major issue in easing transit trade. Role of Senate and Senators can be instrumental in this regard”, he concluded.

Mr. Haroun Mir, Senior Afghan Analyst said that their presence to address the bilateral issues showed their sincerity about solution. “We believe that the democratic institutions and their decisions can have a great impact on bilateral relations”, he said while adding that they would appreciate if Pakistani Parliament could take some positive initiatives in that regard. Ms. Suraya Parlika, Senior Afghan Advocate, Women’s Political Participation, underscored the need to have serious talk on the core issues hindering friendly relations. “Afghan Civil Society wants stable Pakistan and cannot imagine stable Afghanistan without stable Pakistan”, she added.  Lt. Gen. (retd) Asif Yasin Malik, Former Corps Commander Peshawar, and Former Defence Secretary said that Pakistan’s sincerity about peaceful Afghanistan and friendly relations is manifest in the fact the both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Raheel Sharif had made it clear time and again that they would not allow anyone to use Pakistani territory against Afghanistan. “Border control is also a serious issue and is a joint responsibility of both sides”, he added while appreciating the way how Afghan Security forces had evolved into effective state instrument against terrorists. Chairman Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance assured that Pakistan – under any circumstances – would not allow any sort of terrorism in Afghanistan. He said that whenever there was any terrorism in Afghanistan, we felt it was in Pakistan.

The Regional Security Working Groups’ also had a meeting with Chairman Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Awais Laghari who welcomed the delegates to discuss any issues of mutual interest. He urged to fend off the negative perceptions and – learning from the past – focus positively on building friendly relations between the two countries. Mr. Haroun Mir, Senior Afghan Analyst said that they considered Pakistan as a guardian of entire Muslim world’s interest. “Harsh statements by leaders create divide and should be avoided”, he said while adding that the new page of friendly relations could address old issues and grievances of both sides. Mr. Mirwais Yasini, First Deputy Speaker, Lower House of Afghan Parliament cautioned to control Taliban dilemma before it could turn into daaish. Mr. Qutbuddin Hilal, Presidential Senior Advisor on Peace, Afghanistan urged the need to first find the factors deterring the peace process in Afghanistan. “Let us accept the realities, find solutions and put them before the government”, he said while adding that peace was essential and hoped that Senate (Pakistan) would play its role in this regard. PkMAP lawmaker Mehmood Khan Achakzai urged the need to realize the respective mistakes, come past the bitter context and take collection action for peace. He said that both Afghanistan and Pakistan should pursue dialogue as sovereign states. He termed Af-Pak cooperation as must for regional peace and stability. Mr. Awais Laghari, while concluding the meeting, said that the cordial and friendly relations with Afghanistan needed ownership from both countries. The Afghan refugees in Pakistan are treated as brothers and sisters. He said that the internal power struggle and battle of supremacy within Afghanistan is also one of the reasons behind restive Afghanistan. “Resolve of Political and Military leadership can translate into results”, he said while adding that Pakistan made a national resolve to fight terrorism after the APS attacks. He underlined the need to sit down together; ignoring where both sides went wrong. “There can’t be stable Pakistan unless there is stable Afghanistan”, he concluded while appreciating how Pakistan Army cleared North Waziristan to retain Terrorism.