Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan has said that both countries relations are not limited and have relations, from family to family; cultural, tribal, historic, linguistic and no other two neighboring countries in the world have such relations.

Talking exclusively to the Daily Times at the Afghan Embassy, he said for trade both countries were not using their full potential. Through transit trade and other means that can be further enhanced.

He stressed the need for more cultural and media exchanges in both countries and “ through meeting with each other hostility will come down”. He also stressed on cultural exchanges. “We need flexibility towards each other.”

On Afghan refugees’ return to their respective country, he said nobody wants to abandon their homes, villages, cities and relative and the country. Refugees’ repatriation should be on only voluntary basis, not forcefully. Whenever, peace returns back to Afghanistan refugees will also return to Afghanistan. The Afghan government was talking with the Pakistan government and authorities regarding the extension of dateline for the repatriation of Afghans. He said that here Afghans refugees were also facing harassment, rounding and jails. He added that “this is not the right approach to deal with refugees. Pakistan should be patient with refugees and it should not link them with politics. They will return with dignity and respect.”

On refugees’ involvement in criminal activities, the Afghan Ambassador said, “I don’t believe it, but do not rule out some may be involved. If, there are any individual involved in heinous crimes than only the individual should be punished and not the whole refugees community.”

On Illegal activities from border areas and installing of barb wires, he said separation of the people was not the solution. “We should not narrow the focus only on security. They need jobs and interaction and that also can help and the people across the border can benefit. Mineral and other resourses of both can jointly benefit from it. In the 21st century, the era of globalisation, both the countries need integration.”

On the Durand line accepting as international border, he said that “I don’t want to even discuss it. It has never been an issue, on that issue Afghanistan never threatened Pakistan. There is need of dual border relations; just like France and Germany that people easily cross borders.”

On both the countries differences on transit trade, he said that “transit was not hurting Pakistan, but loopholes can be overcome and trade can further be extended with joint projects, if one want to live with dignity. If we start spending such much on security with the passage of time we become less secure. “There is need of more economic cooperation in both countries.” There is a link through Afghanistan to Central Asia. Pakistan’s electricity and other needs of energy can be met through Central Asian States. The potential can be used positively.”

“I am not pro-negative and requested our government not to release statements against (Pakistan) some times justified and sometimes not justified. Now, significantly harsh statements have decreased,” he said on the harsh statements from President Ghani and Chief Exective Abullah Abdullah. He said that peace in Afghanistan will bring peace in Pakistan too.

On the growing influence of India in Afghanistan, the Ambassador said that “there is a lot of misperception regarding it. Afghanistan as a sovereign state has the right to choose its friends and relations. If, Pakistan thinks that this harms the counrty they can provide evidences. Using of Afghan land against Pakistan is not true. Here is also mis-information that there are 17 conciliates of India in Afghanistan but in reality there are four and are since Indian independence.”

On Taliban’s safe havens in Afghanistan, Zakhilwal said that Baitullah Masoud, Mullah Fazlullah originated from Pakistan and Mullah Omar is their leader. Pakistan started operations and disrupted the elements of the TTP and it was a good step. But there should be no difference in good and bad Taliban.”

On the Bacha Khan University attack and the blame of Afghanistan, he said that “it is unimaginable that Afghan government is linked with this act of crime. Because this university is in the name of a great leader.”

On talks with various Taliban groups, he said that though the Afghan government has an open policy yet some reservation is there in favour of accommodating Taliban. “But, in recent talks of the Pakistani authorities with Afghan Taliban, Pakistan did not formally inform the Afghanistan Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG. He said that “the present Afghan government is a legitimate government. The Pakistani government did not bring forward the recently held talks with Taliban group.”

On the joint border mechanism, he said that “the sky is the limit.” He stressed “on more interaction between governments and people to people for removing mistrust and paving the way for normalisation of relations between both the countries.”

While informing about his background, the Afghan Ambassador said that he did his Masters and PhD in economics and remained as Financé Minister, Chief Economic Adviser, present Special Envoy to President Ashraf Ghani. “Ambassadorship to Pakistan is my mission, not a job. When I joined the embassy here both the countries relations were in a difficult phase. There were a lot issues and problems between both the countries and there was a trust deficit as well.” Now, he was trying best to bring both the countries closer to each other.

He said he likes poetry and history books. Islamabad and Istanbul are his favourite cities, likes Peshawari Kabab, chicken masala and also likes to wear Afghan shalwar kameez which resembles the Pakistani shalwar kameez.