The “peaceful” transfer of power in Afghanistan is a welcome sign, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry said Tuesday, days after the Taliban took over the country and ousted President Ashraf Ghani. The minister’s statement comes after the National Security Committee (NSC) had reiterated that Pakistan aspires for peace in Afghanistan and stressed an inclusive political settlement in the country.
The Taliban have also declared a general amnesty for all government officials and urged them to return to work. “A general amnesty has been declared for all… so you should start your routine life with full confidence,” said a statement from the Taliban.
Meanwhile, Fawad — during a post-cabinet press briefing in Islamabad — said Pakistan was in contact with allied countries on the evolving situation in Afghanistan as Islamabad plays its role for lasting peace in Kabul. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, earlier in the day — as part of Pakistan’s efforts in reaching out to other countries on Afghanistan’s situation — held a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
During the telephone call, FM Qureshi said that Pakistan would remain engaged with Washington and other international partners in promoting efforts for supporting a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. “Pakistan will not take an isolated decision of accepting the Taliban government […] we are in contact with other countries and will make a decision in line with the world powers,” he said. The federal information minister hoped the Taliban would respect the human rights of the Afghans. “It is good to see that not many losses were incurred by people (during the offensive),” he said. Prime Minister Imran Khan also took the cabinet into confidence over the rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan, the federal information minister said.
The SNC ‘promise’
Moving over to the Single National Curriculum (SNC), the information minister said PTI had promised to enforce a uniform curriculum throughout the country before coming into power. PM Imran Khan had launched the first phase SNC a day earlier in Islamabad for students of grades one to five, where he had said that the “uniform curriculum is the actual path to freedom”. For the first time modern syllabus has been rolled out in madrassas, he said, adding that Nazra Quran was also being taught in schools. “Prime minister also wants students of classes 8, 9, and 10 to learn about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),” the information minister said.
Changes in sports policy
Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza has been directed to review the sports policy and come up with a new one, Fawad said, after the government and the Olympic Association of Pakistan came under criticism following the country’s performance in the international event.
The prime minister has directed to change the current sports system in the country and asked the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to start works in this regard. “The sports federation is not performing up to the mark and is in need of a total revamp,” the information minister said.
‘We spend tax money carefully’
Speaking about the federal government’s bid to reduce expenses, he said the amount spent on Prime Minister’s Office and President House has been reduced “sharply”.
“The expenses of the prime minister, president, and speaker have been reduced by billions of rupees,” the information minister said, as he took a jibe at the Nawaz Sharif-led government that they had declared Jati Umra as a camp office. “We spend tax money carefully.”