ISLAMABAD: Expressing an unprecedented solidarity with Afghanistan, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday termed the Afghan Taliban’s new spring offensive — Operation Azm — an act of terrorism.
In his media interaction before returning home from Kabul, Nawaz condemned the increase in violence and attacks by the Afghan Taliban under the new offensive.He maintained that all sanctuaries, whenever found, would be eliminated by direct action and would be monitored by the existing mechanism.
Earlier, Nawaz met the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah separately.The prime minister’s delegation included Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar Malik, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul Syed Ibrar Ahmad and senior officials.
The prime minister said the continuation of the fresh Afghan offensive and attacks would be construed as terrorism.The Afghan Taliban had announced Operation Azm last month to target the foreign occupiers and the Afghan government.
Nawaz made it clear that any effort by any militant or group to destabilise Afghanistan would be dealt with severely and such elements would be outlawed and hunted down.In case of any terrorist activity, both the countries will take counter action in conjunction, he vowed.
He said wide-ranging consultations on issues concerning common challenges and significant opportunities ahead were held.The two countries agreed that peace and stability in the region would remain elusive until terrorism afflicting the region was comprehensively addressed, he added.
He expressed the confidence that Pakistan and Afghanistan would succeed in uprooting terrorism through firm determination and by adopting a comprehensive and coordinated strategy.The prime minister reminded that Pakistan had the highest stake in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
“We stand in strong solidarity with Afghanistan. I assure you that the enemies of Afghanistan cannot be friends of Pakistan. We both recognised that an enduring peace in Afghanistan will be a distant dream without an inclusive intra-Afghan reconciliation,” Nawaz said who was on his day-long second trip to that country during the present stint.
Nawaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process and assured President Ashraf Ghani of making all-possible efforts in this regard.
He reiterated the offer for capacity-building of the Afghan police, including training.Giving details of talks with the Afghan leadership, he said both the sides had agreed to continue their bilateral relations by following the principles of non-interference and not allowing the use of their territories against each other.
Nawaz said the most important principle was that Afghanistan’s enemies would be treated as Pakistan’s and vice versa.He said both the sides discussed ways to realise the full potential of their “well-endowed reservoir of human and material resources”.
“Expanding trade, increasing investments, improving infrastructure, building road and rail links, and enhancing energy collaboration came under discussion,” he said.The prime minister said he had also stressed the need for fast-track progress on trans-regional energy projects to advance the goal of greater regional integration.
He underlined Pakistan’s resolve to further deepen its defence and security partnership with Afghanistan through enhanced cooperation along the border and human resource development in the course of dialogue.
The prime minister assured President Ashraf Ghani of Pakistan’s continued engagement with regional and international processes in support of his country. He said as co-chair of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process during the current year, Pakistan would steer the process in line with the Afghan priorities and aspirations. He reiterated that Afghanistan had a special place in the hearts of the people of Pakistan.
“There are no other two countries that have so much in common. We are friends; we are brothers. We have stood shoulder to shoulder through every trial and tribulation,” Nawaz added.He said fraternal ties between the two brotherly countries transcended the boundaries of time and space, reinforced by common faith and cultural affinities.
The prime minister said he was delighted to visit Kabul and again meet his friends and brothers.He was gratified at the warm-hearted reception and generous hospitality that was characteristic of the Afghan people.
“It is always a pleasure to be in Afghanistan and among my Afghan brethren. Coming to Afghanistan is like coming to my second home. I have brought with me the most cordial greetings of the people of Pakistan for their Afghan brethren,” Nawaz said.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to continue working with President Ashraf Ghani for prosperity and development of the two peoples and in advancing the shared objectives of peace and stability in the region. He concluded by raising the slogan of “Pak-Afghan Dosti Painda Baad.”
Stressing further closer cooperation between the two brotherly countries, Ashraf Ghani said both had suffered due to terrorism, a common threat.“The spectre of terrorism has targeted children in Peshawar and on the Afghan soil and both the countries have to confront it jointly,” he added. He termed the enemies of Pakistan those of Afghanistan.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who left for Kabul in the morning, has returned home.
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