Foreign policy definition should change: Ghani

KABUL (TOLO news): Afghanistan’s foreign policy should be based on long-term planning, not based on “sentiments or reactions”, President Ashraf Ghani said, apparently pointing at recent remarks by his National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib about the US’s efforts for Afghan peace.

Addressing a ceremony on introducing Wahid Omar, former Afghan envoy to Italy, as his new senior advisor on public and strategic relations, Ghani said Afghanistan’s foreign policy has two sections and that both reflect old thoughts which do not meet today’s requirements and needs.

“Our foreign policy should be based on long-term planning, not based on sentiments or reactions. Our cooperation with Pakistan in terms of economy is part of our national policy,” he said.

He said Afghanistan should not be seen as a landlocked country anymore, reiterating that it should be believed the country is a connector in Asia. “Our foreign policy definition should change in this regard,” he said.

“We want Afghanistan to be the connecting point for transferring of the energy of the Central Asia to South Asia and this is something that only Afghanistan can do for Pakistan,” Ghani added.

Ghani said Afghanistan needs mutual cooperation in its regional policy to empower the country economically.

“Afghanistan can develop well and for making progress we need regional cooperation and without such cooperation going forward in terms of economy is not possible,” Ghani said.

In his 18-minute speech, Ghani talked about peace as well. He said Consultative Loya Jirga will be held on the specified date and that it should be a national Jirga.