Afghanistan on Thursday said its ambassador will be returning to Islamabad after Pakistan has clarified remarks made by Prime Minister Imran Khan which the neighbouring country had deemed to be a ‘political interference’.
Afghan government had called back ambassador Atif Mashal for ‘consultations’. Pakistan’s deputy ambassador in Kabul was also summoned to lodge protest over Prime Minister Khan’s remarks about formation of an interim government in Afghanistan. Kabul had angrily dismissed the remarks as ‘irresponsible’ and ‘interference’ in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
The Foreign Office, however, clarified the prime minister’s comments on Afghanistan had been reported out of context. It said the prime minister had actually referred to Pakistan’s model where elections are held under an interim government and that the comments should not be misinterpreted to imply interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Pakistan’s clarification has convinced the Afghan government. “After clarifications provided by the PAK Foreign Ministry and PM Imran Khan’s retreat from his previous remarks & discussion on the two countries’ relations; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the I.R. AFG decided that Amb Atif Mashal returns to Islamabad to continue his mission,” Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi posted on his Twitter handle.
The ambassador is likely to return to Islamabad by Monday.