Pakistan should not try to represent Afghanistan.

[ghazi52]

Former Afghan president says Pakistan is not representative of the war-torn country


News Desk
October 18, 2021

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. PHOTO: AA


Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai said that the current Taliban government in Afghanistan can get international recognition only through the "support of the Afghan people".

International legitimacy could only be achieved through the expression of the will of the Afghan people, either in the form of elections or holding the Loya Jirga, a traditional grand council of representatives from various parts of the country, he said in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) on Saturday.

Karzai spoke with the VOA nearly two months after the United States and its Nato allies left Afghanistan, ending the US longest war in history.

The Taliban last month announced the new government in Afghanistan a week after a chaotic departure of US-led foreign forces from the country, giving top posts to those fighters who dominated the 20-year battle against the coalition and its Afghan government allies.

Chief Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid unveiled a 33-member cabinet, which included Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund as the new prime minister, while the group’s top negotiator with the US Mullah Ghani Baradar to be his deputy.

There are no women in the new interim government, which has been announced after the approval of Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah.

Karzai told VOA that Pakistan is not the representative of the Afghan people. "My message to Pakistan, our brotherly country, is that they should not try to represent Afghanistan. On the contrary, the country should try to establish a civil relationship with our country."

"We have deep people-to-people relations with Pakistan.… Our hope from Pakistan is that the country should not try to maintain its relations with us through interference, the encouragement of extremism and terrorism or by force, but rather establish relations with Afghanistan through civil principles and principles of international relations, and we will happily maintain that relationship with them," he added.

While in power, both Karzai and his successor Ashraf Ghani have frequently accused Pakistan of supporting the Afghan Taliban and providing them with training and safe havens on its soil, charges that Islamabad has denied.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Pakistan has been urging the new rulers to include all segments of society in the government in order to gain “international acceptability”.

Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the world earlier this month to engage with Afghanistan, warning that there were hardliners within the Taliban movement, who, if pushed away by the international community, could easily go back to the Taliban of 2000.

In an interview with Middle East Eye, a London-based online news outlet, PM Imran asked the United States to “pull itself together” or face the collapse of the war-torn country, which would become a haven of terrorists.

 

[Falconless]

He’d be among the first waves of refugees running towards the border

 

[TigerOfMysore]

He’d be among the first waves of refugees running towards the border

He is a snake and will always be a snake.

 

[Hyde]

I think he is absolutely correct and makes complete sense. Let Afghan people handle their own affairs and stop representing them when you are not wanted

Imran Khan should focus on resolving internal affairs of Pakistan if he is so keen of representing terrorist mindset of Afghan Taliban

 

[Chacha_Facebooka]

IK should not look like he is a spokesperson for TB. Makes Pakistan an easy target. I also pray that he does not become the Neville Chamberlain of Pakistan in dealing with TTP.

 

[TigerOfMysore]

I think he is absolutely correct and makes complete sense. Let Afghan people handle their own affairs and stop representing them when you are not wanted

Imran Khan should focus on resolving internal affairs of Pakistan if he is so keen of representing terrorist mindset of Afghan Taliban

I agree with his argument. But he is still a snake. If this was India doing this for his government for example, he would be up Mahatma's a**, espousing the peace loving and Afghan caring Indians. That is why this man will always be a snake in my mind.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

India should?

 

[Great Janjua]

It's absolute common sense a few taps on the back is not blasphemous but Imran Khan took it to a whole level, he was on a roll, trying to legitimize them merely after 2 hours of Kabul rollovers, continued weeks after mind you.


It sure did paint him on the western radar.

 

[Mirzali Khan]

Bruh how is this guy still in Kabul. Why didn't he run away like Ghani and Amrullah Saleh did?

 

[FuturePAF]

It's absolute common sense a few taps on the back is not blasphemous but Imran Khan took it to a whole level, he was on a roll, trying to legitimize them merely after 2 hours of Kabul rollovers, continued weeks after mind you.


It sure did paint him on the western radar.

IMHO, Imran Khan sees himself as a peacemaker. Trying to use all at his disposal to try to resolve the disputes and trying to find common cause between the parties. The wars in Afghanistan have taken their psychological toll on everyone even remotely connected with the region. It’s not hard to see he was so earnest to see the conflict be resolved conclusively and taking everyone into account.

That is why it seems he comes off as pro one side when he is talking to the other and vis a versa; trying to get the world to talk to the Talibs while trying to convince the Talibs to be more inclusive.

While it is noble to try to bring people together, charity begins at home, and he has to remember his responsibilities to the people that elected him. There is a limit to what is appreciated by either party when he his trying to conduct shuttle diplomacy between them. Which is not to say he should stop trying to help those that seek his help, but remember that a lasting resolution will come when the parties settle their issues amongst themselves.

IMHO, he should complete the fence (with extensive fortifications because the TTP and Pashtun nationalism could popup again) and build trading posts in a number of points along the border. Peace through Strength.

And when it comes to Karzai, he is probably one of the worst Afghan leader, because instead of fighting corruption when the whole world was willing to support him, he undermined reconciliation amongst Afghan people and enabled the warlords. So he’s one to talk; during his tenure Afghans saw the slow and steady delegitimization of democracy and liberal values, as shown by the low voter turn out by the time of the 2019 election and the dueling inaugurations.

p.s. IK and the government’s efforts are being noticed amongst people in the west. Just yesterday Bob Gates gave an interview on the future of Afghanistan, but didn’t list Pakistan amongst those that would be financially supporting the Talibs. He is a shrewd man who understands the region better then most.

Robert Gates on the future of Afghanistan

The former defense secretary tells 60 Minutes what leverage the U.S. has over the Taliban now — and whether he thinks his troop surge in Afghanistan was a mistake.

www.cbsnews.com

He was also the one back in 2011, who stated that the US and Pakistan need each other.
4:46

And tried to give a reality check to end the blame game; “Most governments lie to each other, that the way business gets done”

 

[TigerOfMysore]

Bajwa needs to cut this. It is getting to be a joke. Meets with US Charge'd Affairs yet again.

Bajwa stresses Pakistan’s desire for ‘enduring ties’ with US

In meeting with US charge d’affaires, army chief emphasises the need for a “global convergence” on Afghanistan.

www.dawn.com

 

[One_Nation]

Nothing wrong he said. Stupid statements from Imran Khan and non-existent foreign affairs department are hell bent on taking ownership of every problem in Afghanistan.
USA has interfered in Afghanistan for 4 decades and occupied the country for two decades and still haven't taken responsibility for anything because they know dummies next door will do it for them.

 

[El Sidd]

"My message to Pakistan, our brotherly country, is that they should not try to represent Afghanistan. On the contrary, the country should try to establish a civil relationship with our country."

"We have deep people-to-people relations with Pakistan.… Our hope from Pakistan is that the country should not try to maintain its relations with us through interference, the encouragement of extremism and terrorism or by force, but rather establish relations with Afghanistan through civil principles and principles of international relations, and we will happily maintain that relationship with them," he added.

Do you have a civil infrastructure for engagement in existence? The only civil relationship you have is with Government of Pakistan who has never claimed to represent the Afghan people.

Pakistani government should approach the interim Afghan government about former Afghan officials spoiling the fragile peace efforts through propaganda and paranoia.