The Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday certified their stance on the Afghan issue. He said that we have no favourites in Afghanistan and emphasized the misinterpretation of the Foreign Minister’s recent comments on the neighbouring Islamic State and the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan repeatedly denied taking sides in Afghan conflict. During the inaugural session of the Pak-Afghan Bilateral dialogue in Islamabad, Shah Mehmood said that Pakistan has a very clear view and no second opinion about the Afghan issue. Moreover, he said that he is Pakistan’s representative and not of the Afghan Taliban.
Qureshi was also questioned in the press conference on the reports of IS militants moving into Afghanistan, to which he replied that the Afghan government has to keep eye on IS militants from Syria and Iraq. It is their responsibility to keep check and balance. Moreover, he said that neither Afghan government nor the Afghan Taliban and also none of neighbouring countries of Afghanistan want IS revival in Afghanistan. There is unity over this opinion.
Foreign Minister’s statement was misinterpreted by media in the Afghan press and on social media too. They showed his statement that as he expected the Taliban to control the situation. However, The Foreign office reviewed the remarks of the Foreign Minister and said that it is mournful that how media manipulated the statement and interpreted it in their desired context.
Moreover, Foreign Minister stated that there is harmony among the International community, regional players and Afghani People about the threat of terrorism. A spokesperson said that his clear remarks cannot be misinterpreted. He said that Pakistan has no second opinion on the Afghan issue and we have no favourites in Afghanistan. Foreign Office emphasized the long-term extensive solution and political settlement to the Afghan conflict.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had also cleared his stance about the Afghan issue. During question and answer session with Afghan journalists, He said that the internal happenings of Afghanistan has no concern with Pakistan and we are not responsible for Taliban and their spokespersons.