Afghan situation has direct impact on region

ISLAMABAD (PAN): Some Pakistani politicians and analysts on Saturday said the situation in Afghanistan as a major development ahead of foreign troops’ drawdown by 2014 end.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulama-i-Islam (JUI-F) told reporters in Islamabad his party supported keeping good relations with neighboring countries.

The post-2014 US presence in Afghanistan was a serious threat to the region, he believed, adding regional states should ponder as to what would happen after the crucial 2014 year because Afghanistan’s situation had a direct impact on neighbouring countries.

He stressed regional powers including China, India, Russia and Iran should not overlook post-2014 Afghanistan’s situation and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Kabul had immense importance in that context.

Speaking on the occasion, Munawar Hassan, Jamat-i-Islami (JI) chief, said security of Pakistan was depended on enhanced security in Afghanistan, urging both countries to focus on issues of mutual interests.

Senator Afrasyab Khattak, central leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), hailed Sharif Kabul’s trip in the wake of emerging developments in the region.  

Withdrawal of foreign troops, the recent interim nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 group and the Loya Jirga on the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US were among important issues that prompted Pakistan’s premier to visit Kabul.

Sharif, at the head of a high-level delegation arrived in Kabul on a  day-long visit to hold talks with president Hamid Karzai and Afghan peace negotiators in a bid to revive the stalled peace process.

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