Farid Shinwari
PESHAWAR: Clarifying the Afghanistan government,s stance, the Afghan Consul General in provincial metropolitan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Professor Muhammad Moen Marastial on Wednesday made it clear that its soil would not be used against any country in the region.
Peaceful Afghanistan is in best interest of neighboring Pakistan and people from both sides are supposed to patronize governments for restoration of long lasting peace, said the Afghan envoy while talking to media men at Peshawar press club. It is the need of hour to restore peace and certainty in entire region to provide peaceful environment to people, he stated. He categorically said that neither the Afghan soil would not be used against any country and nor its government would allow anyone to do so because the uncertainty has prevailed in the region since long. The Afghan diplomat has stressed the needs for establishing sustainable peace and boost bilateral trade and economic relations between two neighboring countries.
“People of both Pakistan and Afghanistan have rendered matchless sacrifices for eradication of terrorism and extremism despite having equal culture, tradition and religion” he said and adding citizens of both countries do not repose confidence on each others. He argued that the trust could restore if both countries take positive steps in this regard.
Regarding Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), he opined that consent and views of tribesmen should be incorporated before taking any decision pertaining to their fate. The lawlessness has greatly affected people of both countries and the menace of uncertainty should be coped with in forthcoming time with mutual understanding, he remarked.
Accompanied by officials of Afghan Consulate in Peshawar, Professor Marastial said the every country has set its own priorities and economic goals and that the Afghan government has right to strengthen its relations with other countries.
He said Afghanistan issue is not only of Afghan people, but every country has come with its own agenda. As the Pakistan should also come with its agenda to contribute in economic development and progress of Afghanistan. Both neighboring countries are being faced with common challenges, which should be addressed with joint efforts.
Mr Marastial said the Afghanistan and Pakistan had bounded with cordial relations due to their common language, culture and religion. He thanked the government for Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for the last several decades. He further said he will make all out efforts for resolution of Afghan refugees issues, besides to give further boost to mutual trade, economic, culture relations between the two neighboring countries.
About the Afghan refugees in Pakistan, he informed that more than 03 million refugees are still residing in different parts of the Pakistan and its government has taken several steps for resettlement and rehabilitation of returned Afghan refugees from Pakistan and other countries.
The envoy said the Afghans completed their studies in Pakistan, are playing integral role in economic development of Afghanistan.
He stressed the need for establishment of business to business contact to give further boost to economic and trade relations between the two neighboring countries, besides they should also initiate special students, culture delegation exchange program and others. He hoped that the exchange of delegates between the two countries will help decrease differences amongst the people.
The Afghan envoy dispelled the perception about Chabahar port agreement between Afghanistan, Iran and India, saying that the trilateral deal would not affect transit trade relations with Pakistan as the significance of transit route via Karachi to Afghanistan will not be reduced by using Iran,s Chabahar port. The Karachi port is still beneficial for Afghanistan, which would have huge impacts for bolstering transit trade relations between the two neighboring countries, he added.
