Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The democratic institutions and their decisions can have a great impact on Af-Pak bilateral relations, and Afghanistan cannot be stable without stable Pakistan, regional security experts from Afghanistan and Pakistan noted during their meetings with political leaders in Senate.

They said Pakistan – under no circumstances – would allow any sort of terrorism in Afghanistan and said they should focus positively on building friendly relations between the two countries. Noting that harsh statements by the leaders create divide and should be avoided, they said both Afghanistan and Pakistan should pursue a dialogue as sovereign states. Electronic media should be utilised to neutralise the negative sentiments that exist on both sides. The regional security experts also met Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Awais Laghari, Chairman Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Senator Kamil Ali Agha and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) lawmaker Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

This meetings were organised as part of the initiative “Beyond Boundaries” – launched by Center of Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – in partnership with its Afghan counterpart organisation, DURAN Research and Analysis (DRA) and sub-national partner (Pakistan), the Foundation for Integrated Development Action (FIDA) – a major Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II dialogue, as part of efforts to help improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Mandviwalla said Afghanistan was a brotherly country and thus they did not consider it as a foreign country. He also said that National Assembly and Senate were willing to address any issues of bilateral nature that could be solved at their level. Mirwais Yasini, first deputy speaker, lower house of Afghan parliament, highlighted the issues of transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan and asked the Pakistani parliament to facilitate their transit trade for Pakistan. Wazhma Frogh, Founding Director, Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Afghanistan underscored the need for utilising electronic media to neutralise the negative sentiments that exist on both sides.

Former Sindh inspector general (IG) of police Dr Shoaib Suddle, who was present on the occasion as a delegation member from Pakistan side, said there was an issue of narrative on both sides. He added that having closely monitored transit issues as the federal tax ombudsman, there was a need to facilitate honest traders. “Smuggling in disguise is a major issue in easing transit trade. Role of Senate and senators can be instrumental in this regard,” he observed. Haroun Mir, senior Afghan analyst, said their presence to address the bilateral issues showed their sincerity about solution.

“We believe that the democratic institutions and their decisions can have a great impact on bilateral relations”, he said while adding that they would appreciate if Pakistani parliament could take some positive initiatives in that regard. Suraya Parlika, senior Afghan advocate, Women’s Political Participation, underscored the need to have serious talk on the core issues hindering friendly relations. “Afghan civil society wants stable Pakistan and cannot imagine stable Afghanistan without stable Pakistan,” she added. Lt Gen (r) Asif Yasin Malik, former corps commander Peshawar, and former defence secretary, said that Pakistan’s sincerity about peaceful Afghanistan and friendly relations is manifest in the fact that both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Raheel Sharif had made it clear time and again that they would not allow anyone to use Pakistani territory against Afghanistan.

“Border control is also a serious issue and is a joint responsibility of both sides,” he added while appreciating the way Afghan security forces had evolved into effective state instrument against terrorists. Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance chairman assured that Pakistan would not allow any sort of terrorism in Afghanistan. He said that whenever there was any terrorism in Afghanistan, we felt it was in Pakistan. The Regional Security Working Groups’ also had a meeting with Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Awais Laghari who welcomed the delegates to discuss any issues of mutual interest. He urged to fend off the negative perceptions and – learning from the past – focus positively on building friendly relations between the two countries.

Senior Afghan analyst Haroun Mir said they considered Pakistan a guardian of entire Muslim world’s interest. “Harsh statements by leaders create divide and should be avoided,” he said while adding that the new page of friendly relations could address old issues and grievances of both sides. Mirwais Yasini, first deputy speaker, lower house of Afghan parliament called for controlling Taliban dilemma before it could turn into an ISIS-like entity.