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ISLAMABAD: With a shift in the leadership of Afghanistan around the corner, Pakistan needs to shift focus from geo-strategic to geo-economic interests in its neighbour amid the changing regional scenario.
Senator Afrasiab Khattak was analysing the first phase of Afghanistan presidential election 2014 at a local hotel on Tuesday. He was invited in his capacity as a member of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Senate.
“Afghanistan, the last tribal society in Asia, is the most important country for Pakistan,” he added. Khattak ruled out the chance of Abdullah Abdullah becoming a threat to Pakistan due to his pro-India credentials.
“Although he may have good relations with India, all the people of northern and eastern Afghanistan have to come to Peshawar and Quetta for healthcare and other facilities and this is what shows that the border is what differentiates Pakistan from India,” he added.
He reckoned that following the elections, the biggest challenge in Afghanistan would be security, eradication of extremism and mobilisation of people. He lauded the neutral role of Pakistan during the elections.
About the law and order situation, the senator said the Afghan people were exhausted by decades of war and were desperate for dialogue to end it.
About the first phase, he added the high voter turnout and political maturity displayed in Afghan presidential election showed democracy was gaining ground in Afghanistan.
Khattak said that Pakistan needs to extend its support to the people of Afghanistan for a peaceful and democratic transition.
“Pakistan should also extend support to Afghanistan for joint economic ventures that will help both the countries sustain economic stability in the South Asian region.”
He also pointed out that Taliban have emerged strong militarily, but not politically. “If the Taliban join mainstream politics, it will become the top religio-political party,” he commented.
He also added that the people of Afghanistan were still weary of Pakistan because they fear that the latter might support the Taliban. Khattak ruled out stagnation in the atmosphere following the success of a Tajik (Abdullah) in a Pakhtun-dominated country.
Afghanistan elections: Pakistan needs to focus on geo-economic strategy says Khattak – The Express Tribune
