Direct provincial talks with foreign countries a violation of Constitution: Hina Khar

Former minister of state for foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has said that if any province talks directly with a foreign country, it violates the Pakistan’s Constitution.

To a question regarding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s proposal to hold parleys with Afghan authorities, she said: “Let state be the state. If each province sets its own policy with America, China, or Afghanistan, it will challenge the Constitution.”

Recently, KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur spoke about bypassing the centre and holding direct negotiations with Afghanistan to remove terrorism concerns for lasting peace in the bordering regions.

Speaking on a local TV show, the former foreign affairs official said that this is certainly not within the prerogative of a provincial government, adding that conducting any form of dialogue with a foreign state falls solely under the federal government’s jurisdiction.

Kha added that those who believe the Taliban have not been addressed with civility, threats, or firm measures are mistaken, as all these approaches, including advocating their case on a global scale, have been tried repeatedly.

The former minister without naming anyone stated that it is essential for them to understand the facts and fulfil their responsibilities.

On Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan had also backed CM Gandapur’s stance during a talk with the journalists at Adiala Jail.

He said that terrorism cannot be eliminated without dialogue.