Dushanbe, 17 September 2021 (TDI): Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, during his visit to Tajikistan for the 20th session of the Shanghai Corporation Organization, addressed the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit.
Imran Khan highlighted the evolving situation in Afghanistan in his address. He said after forty years of chaos and instability there is a hope of peace in Afghanistan. The events leading to the situation in Afghanistan were sudden and unanticipated. He said that the danger of civil war was averted currently and the fear of the refugee crisis is being dealt with.
He underscored that anticipated humanitarian and economic crises are two major challenges along with the challenge of the transition of Afghanistan’s war economy into a sustainable economy.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that there are two options for an international community, either to engage in Afghanistan or abandon it. He stressed that the policy of abandonment would result in bad consequences. Afghanistan is vital for the peace of the entire region because instability would lead to civil strife, negative spillover on neighboring countries, refugee crisis, and rise in terrorist acts, drug trafficking, and transnational crimes. Hence, only a constructive engagement is the solution.
He also emphasized that the Taliban should also take necessary measures to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe sanctuary for terrorists. A myopic approach towards the Taliban and the fuelling of internal conflicts in Afghanistan would ignite more challenges.
Showing support and solidarity with the people of Afghanistan is critical for stability. Unfreezing Afghan assets for the wellbeing of the Afghan people will be a worthy step.
Pakistan has always supported peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. It has always been maintained that military solution was never the option for the Afghanistan issue. Pakistan thus supported peace dialogues and Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political solutions.
In the end, he said that secure borders, peace, and regional economic connectivity are vital for both SCO and CSTO.
