US must be involved in Afghanistan after troops leave: Pakistan

[Xestan]

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said United States must remain engaged in Afghanistan's reconstruction even if it succeeds in withdrawing troops and ending its longest war.

The foreign minister is currently in the United States on the third leg of his mission to defuse tensions in the Middle East, having already visited Tehran and Riyadh as part of Pakistan's diplomatic efforts.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Qureshi said: "Peace in Afghanistan is ultimately a shared responsibility and Pakistan [...] alone cannot do all that is needed".

The foreign minister warned the US not to neglect Afghanistan, as was seen after 1989 when Soviet troops pulled out under pressure from guerrillas fighters backed by Washington and Islamabad.

"Do not repeat the '80s," he said, adding: "Even if there is a successful agreement, challenges will remain there, so the United States and its friends and coalition partners will have to have a more responsible withdrawal.

"They should remain engaged — not to fight, but to rebuild."

Qureshi said he has seen a willingness from the Taliban to reduce the violence.

"They are pragmatic and not foolish. They are also fatigued," he said.

The foreign minister is set to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today on the growing momentum toward a deal between the United States and the Taliban.

Meanwhile, discussing the situation in occupied Kashmir, Qureshi said Pakistan wanted a solution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations' resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiris, Radio Pakistan reported.

According to Radio Pakistan, Qureshi said India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had "misled" the international community about the Pulwama incident and "construed Pakistan's desire for peace as its weakness", adding that Pakistan only wants "peace for development".

Qureshi meets US lawmakers
Qureshi also held meetings with a host of US lawmakers from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday. The lawmakers included Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee Senator Mitt Romney, Senator Chris Murphy and Senator Jim Risch.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1217884905226612737

Qureshi said he discussed Pakistan's contribution to the Afghan peace process, recent tensions in the Middle East and India's illegal lockdownn in occupied Kashmir.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1218054652647952390

The foreign minister also held a meeting with US Under Secretary of Defence John Rood, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

In the meeting, Qureshi told Rood that Pakistan is "deeply concerned about prospects of any instability in its neighbourhood and [remains] ready to play its due role in finding a peaceful solution to the tensions between US and Iran".

Qureshi informed Rood about his recent visits to Tehran and Riyadh and stressed the need for de-escalation and dialogue, a statement released by the Foreign Office said.

"Defence and security cooperation has been one of the defining features of our bilateral cooperation.

"The US decision to revive the International Military Education and Training programme for Pakistan had significant symbolic value and was a welcome first step in further reviving bilateral military cooperation," he said.

During the meeting, the two discussed various aspects of the Pakistan-US defence cooperation as well as the evolving regional situation.

According to the statement, Rood briefed the foreign minister about ongoing defence-related cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Qureshi brought the US undersecretary for defence up to speed on Pakistan's efforts for peace and stability in South Asia, the statement added.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1528884/u...er-troops-leave-fm-qureshi-says-in-washington

 

[PDF]

https://www.csis.org/events/reframi...ionship-conversation-foreign-minister-qureshi

 

[hussain0216]

Yep Afghanistan is a dump

1 trillion spent by U.S is not enough and they need to pay more

 

[Xestan]

Contrary to the perception that Pakistanis have always had, we never wanted the US troops to leave in a hurry, we have time and again shown our disagreement with troops withdrawal announcement from Washington. Even now, even if we agree to total withdrawal, we cannot afford Afghanistan to fall into another civil war again, and no one I have talked to in Islamabad wants Taliban to reclaim power.

We are stuck between a hostile Afghan government and other bad options.

 

[graphican]

It's like saying "Get the f* out.... but keep visiting!".

Pun aside, after USA's military ambitions are out dead, they can first the first time build this nation they destroyed over 2 decades. They should build hospitals, roads, schools, and water storage systems to benefit Afghans. Paksitan will never object to that kind of involvement.

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

They will run from Afghanistan with their tails between their legs. Don't expect anything from US afterwards.

However with no more leverage on Washington, Pakistan will see a newly openly hostile US.

We need to get in control of our economic and internal political situation before then.

Rough times ahead.

 

[Riz]

Qureshi want to say dont worry we will allow you to keep visiting Afghanistan in future after your Shameful defeat

 

[graphican]

Some core points by Stated by Shah Mehmood Qureshi while visiting America.

• "Paksitan will be only a partner for peace, it will not be a partner for conflict in the region.
• "Pakistan has close ties with both Saudi Arabia and Iran."
• "We have a special relationship with Saudi Arabia with a long-standing tradition of always standing by each other"
• "Iran is a close friend and neighbor"
• "Embassy of Paksitan has also looked after Iranian interest in the united states since the Islamic Revolution" Never knew that.

 

[ali_raza]

we r in no hurry all roads to kabul goes through us
they r depending on us for everything wht they spend in afghanistan economy will end up in pakistani markets
why should we pray americans leave when we have all the cards in our hands
now all we want is a share of power in kabul for taliban and they still get to keep the areas under there control which is well above 50%
we will see to it that no hanky panky is done this time around
so for an extra measure we fenced the border just in case someone wana try another time
but they have lost the war
now its all about spoils
who own it
and we want americans to keep spending
keep muddying the waters so we keep on our game
huge surprise will come from north this time

 

[pakpride00090]

https://www.csis.org/events/reframi...ionship-conversation-foreign-minister-qureshi

I don't know why Shah Mahmood Qureshi is looked down upon. He did a good job in the interview. Presented Pakistans viewpoint and also at the same time being diplomatic.

 

[Trango Towers]

Yep Afghanistan is a dump

1 trillion spent by U.S is not enough and they need to pay more

I trillion spent where?
Where are the hospital
Where are the roads
Where are the schools.

Even you buy the 1 trillion figure but no proof on the ground of any spending

 

[fisher1]

No, please leave Afghanistan effing alone.

Let the Afghanis deal with Afghanistan however they see fit.

What a cowardly, puppet like statement from FM Qureshi. Shows the fear that Americans put in our government officials.

Why should America be involved in Afghanistan? If anyone should be involved then it should be Pakistan.

We shed Pashtun blood in this war on terror. Either no one should be involved or Pakistan should be involved after peace. America should leave and never look back. America is an invader that destroyed Afghanistan, how the hell should they be involved. Anything good that has been done is either by Pakistan or Afghanistan and these two parties have the most stake. They can shove their money in their behinds, Afghanistan will prosper on its own once superpowers stop invading it.

The hypocrisy of our people and our government also amazes me. When they grab the mic and get on stage to beg for our votes, their speeches are anti-America. When they actually fly to America they get down on their knees to please the Americans. Disgusting, filthy people.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

No, please leave Afghanistan effing alone.

Let the Afghanis deal with Afghanistan however they see fit.

What a cowardly, puppet like statement from FM Qureshi. Shows the fear that Americans put in our government officials.

Why should America be involved in Afghanistan? If anyone should be involved then it should be Pakistan.

We shed Pashtun blood in this war on terror. Either no one should be involved or Pakistan should be involved after peace. America should leave and never look back.

The hypocrisy of our people and our government also amazes me. When they grab the mic and get on stage to beg for our votes, their speeches are anti-America. When they actually fly to America they get down on their knees to please the Americans. Disgusting, filthy people.

Because we will lose any little leverage we have on US. Moreover anything happening in Afg. will be blamed on Pakistan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1218036305826926592

 

[fisher1]

Because we will lose any little leverage we have on US. Moreover anything happening in Afg. will be blamed on Pakistan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1218036305826926592

We don't have any leverage. Really, how deluded are we.

We need to curb our self-importance. The leverage we had is long gone.

And Pakistan already gets blamed for crap that happens in our neighbourhood. Afghanis bombed us because they blamed us for American war. Indians fart and blame us.

Nothing is going to change if the blame game continues.

 

[Baz]

It makes me laugh that people think USA will leave aghanistan. They will not, they need to keep this region unstable to contain china, its simple as that