In an exclusive interview with IRNA on Monday, Asif Durrani said if the situation in Afghanistan further deteriorates and a civil war starts in the country it would have a direct impact on Iran and Pakistan because in that case there would be a huge influx of refugees.
“Situation in Afghanistan is alarming and serious as till now there is no rapprochement between the Afghan government and Taliban,” he said,
The expert on international affairs said the Taliban are taking control of many districts of Afghanistan without any resistance peacefully. “There is a possibility of a change in Afghanistan without a peace process,” said the former envoy.
He noted if there is resistance against the Taliban, a civil war could start in the country which could force the people to look for safe places either in Iran or Pakistan.
He said that those countries who want to play a role in peace in Afghanistan must stop supporting different factions in the country and let the people of Afghanistan decide their fate.
Asif Durrani went on to say the neighbors of Afghanistan including Iran, Pakistan, and China should insulate their borders with the war-torn country.
He warned that there are some spoilers in the region who do not want to see peace in Afghanistan but the people of Afghanistan should not allow these spoilers to exploit them.
He said that any external support to different groups in Afghanistan is problematic and could not solve the Afghan problem.
The former ambassador said there should be an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution to the problem in Afghanistan.
Asif Durrani said that if different groups in Afghanistan stop getting foreign assistance they would certainly adopt the path of dialogue as they would know that nobody is behind them to create any problem.
Meanwhile, Pakistan foreign ministry in a statement on Monday rejected the Afghan Foreign Ministry’s Remarks regarding TTP's activities in Afghanistan.
Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said the assertions of the Afghan side are contrary to facts on the ground and various reports of the UN, which also corroborate the presence and activities of over 5000-strong TTP in Afghanistan.
It said over the last many years, TTP has launched several gruesome terrorist attacks inside Pakistan using Afghan soil without any retribution from its hosts.
“Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, without any discrimination is unwavering and unambiguous. Pakistan has continued to emphasize the need for meaningful engagement with the Afghan side for addressing security and terrorism issues through effective use of Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS),” it said.
It added Pakistan has been making serious and sincere efforts for facilitating the intra-Afghan peace process for an inclusive political settlement. We hope that Afghans would seize this opportunity for achieving lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
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