Prime Minister Imran Khan's repeat of his earlier remarks on an interim setup in Afghanistan re-flared tension between the two countries, as Kabul summoned top Pakistani diplomat on Sunday - twice in two weeks.
Addressing a rally in Jamrud last week, Prime Minister Khan said that he had given "brotherly advice" to Afghanistan but he was criticized for his statement. "I gave brotherly advice to the Afghan government," the Prime Minister said as he repeated his earlier remarks about an interim setup in Afghanistan.
These remarks delivered a second time led to summoning of Counselor of Pakistan's Embassy in Kabul on Sunday, with the Ministry stating that 'Afghanistan considers the recent statements of Prime Minister Imran Khan an explicit interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and deems PM's remarks a return to his previous stance and thus demands explanation by the Government of Pakistan'.
Earlier on March 26, Pakistan's deputy ambassador was summoned to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kabul shared its 'grave objection' at Prime Minister Khan's 'reckless' statements about the peace process and establishment of an interim government.
The Afghan government also recalled its Ambassador Shukrullah Atif Mashal to Kabul for consultation who later returned to Islamabad when Foreign Office issued a formal clarification of Prime Minister Khan's remarks, saying that the comments on Afghanistan were misinterpreted. "In his comments, the PM had referred to Pakistan's model where elections are held under an interim government. The comments should not be misinterpreted to imply interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs. Pakistan has no other interest in Afghanistan but to promote peace through an 'Afghan owned' and 'Afghan led' political process", the Foreign Office stated in its clarification.
Talking to Business Recorder former Ambassador Ashraf Jahangir Qazi said the Prime Minister needs to be 'very careful while making comments on the Afghan peace process which is a sensitive issue'. "Although there is no doubt of Prime Minister's good intention as far as peace in Afghanistan is concerned, yet he should be very careful while making comments on the sensitive peace process in Afghanistan", he said. He said that the Prime Minister's suggestion of interim setup in Afghanistan was not something to be spoken about in public. "If you have any suggestion which is helpful in achieving the objective of peace and stability in Afghanistan that should not be shared at a public venue as it may create a misunderstanding," said the former diplomat who served as Additional Foreign Secretary for Policy Planning, Afghanistan, Russia and Eastern Europe, as well as Pakistan's Ambassador to the US and India. Qazi said that the Foreign Office needs to keep advising the Prime Minister on such issues, as the peace process is a very sensitive matter which needs very careful approach from all sides.
Senior analyst, Lt Gen Talat Masood (retd) concurred and said that Afghan peace process is a sensitive matter and Kabul is worried about its future role. He said that Taliban are still reluctant to sit with Afghan government in the dialogue process. He urged the Prime Minister to avoid public comments on the Afghan peace process to avoid any misunderstanding between the two countries. He said that good neighborly relations are required between Pakistan and Afghanistan, adding that any misunderstanding between the two will provide an opportunity to a third country to further exploit the situation.
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