NSA says Pakistan will not accept forceful takeover in Afghanistan

NSA says Pakistan will not accept forceful takeover in Afghanistan and instead support the political solution to the conflict.

National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, told reporters at a press conference held at the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC late Wednesday.

NSA says Pakistan will not accept forceful takeover in Afghanistan

He addressed pressed, while wrapping up a week of talks with the U.S. administration.

Furthermore, the NSA stressed that the political one as the only solution for peace in Afghanistan.

“We have made it absolutely clear that we are with the international community on where this goes,” he said.

“But the world also needs to be clear that the U.S. invest in a political settlement.”

Dr Yusuf said the harsh rhetoric of the Afghan government against Pakistan was making it impossible to maintain good relations between the neighbours.

He further said that we are beginning to see a very conscious, deliberate effort by the Afghan government to scapegoat Pakistan.

He said Afghanistan wanted “to shift the entire blame of its failures.”

Moeed said Pakistan wanted to have very good relations with the Afghan government. However “unfortunately, the vitriol and rhetoric coming from there is making that impossible.”

Peace settlement

He urged the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban to “compromise.

NSA Moeed urged them to reach a peace settlement” as the insurgents made rapid gains amid a US troop withdrawal.

He stressed that the internationally recognized government in Kabul needed to stop looking for a military victory and should include a broader range of Afghans in any future talks.

Moreover, he said there would have to be some compromise given the ground reality. But the violence will have to stop,” he said.

Yusuf said his U.S. counterpart, Jake Sullivan, and others in President Joe Biden’s administration did not make specific requests of Pakistan. But, they discussed “how quickly we can get all these actors in one room to have a sincere conversation.”

NSA clarifies

He dismissed talk of Islamabad exerting leverage over the Taliban.

“Whatever limited leverage we had, we used,” he said, pointing to Pakistan encouraging the Taliban to enter talks with the Afghan government in Doha.

“Now with the troops withdrawal, that leverage has logically gone down further,” he added.

Dr Yusuf said Pakistan was no longer in a position to accept Afghan refugees as it currently hosts about 3.5 million.

He noted peace in Afghanistan nonnegotiable for Pakistan.

He said under no circumstances, we could prepare to see protracted instability that in the past has caused spillover into Pakistan.

GTV