Daily Times

A delegation of Afghan political leaders visiting Pakistan Thursday called for an all-inclusive political solution in Afghanistan through power sharing and decentralized government, believing that any monopolistic set up was bound to fail.

The visiting delegation comprised Speaker Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rehmani, Salahud din Rabbani, former Afghan vice president Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, Ustad Mohammad Karim Khalili, Ahmad Zia Massoud, Ahmad Wali Massoud, Abdul Latif Pedram, and Khalid Noor.

The delegation visited Pakistan at the invitation of the Government of Pakistan and met top civil and military leadership including Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and DG ISI Lt. General Faiz Hameed. Addressing a press conference here, Younus Qanooni along with other delegation members, spoke high of the government of Pakistan’s positive approach towards Afghanistan and desire for a comprehensive political settlement in the country. They said the change of approach was visible in Naya Pakistan as the leadership wanted to leave the past behind and looked towards the future for stronger bilateral ties.

The delegation members told media that the discussion with Pakistan leadership focused on all inclusive set up in Afghanistan representing all ethnic groups of the country. Another objective was to prevent bloodshed in the country. They thanked Pakistan’s leadership for giving assurance to play their all out role for a peaceful Afghanistan which was also inevitable for a stable Pakistan. He said the whole leadership had unanimity of views towards Afghanistan and wanted to start a new chapter of relations with the neighboring country.

The delegation members believed that the government of one group as experienced in 1996 had failed and was bound to fail in future too owing to the multi-ethnic nature of the Afghan society. They said another priority was the protection of rights of the people including women and children besides freedom of expression and voting rights.

To a question, Qanooni said the Taliban could capture the land but not the people until they form an inclusive government and fulfill their commitments for protection of all communities’ rights including the minorities.