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Bilawal says casual visits won’t solve Pakistan, Afghanistan issues
He also questioned the silence on terrorism, and emphasized the need for broad consultation on security issues, involving not just allies but also the opposition.
Problems between Afghanistan and Pakistan cannot be resolved just through visits or casual meetings, said Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday.
Addressing a press conference in Pakistan, Bilawal said solutions needed to be found for the complex issues both countries face.
“A visit to Afghanistan or a cup of tea will not solve the issues. As foreign minister, I facilitated China-Pakistan-Afghanistan negotiations. The problems of Afghanistan and Pakistan should be resolved, acknowledging that not all issues are under Afghan control,” he said.
He also questioned the silence on terrorism, and emphasized the need for broad consultation on security issues, involving not just allies but also the opposition.
“How long will we continue to carry bodies? When will good days come? Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the worst law and order situation. Facilitators of terrorists are presented as heroes,” he said.
Bilawal highlighted the significant security challenges in the province, noting that peace was established through great sacrifices.
“We defeated terrorists with public support and the bravery of our forces. Terrorist organizations are resurging from K-P to Balochistan. We will participate in the prime minister’s APC with our stance, working together to address these issues. We have always stood by the public and the military,” he said.
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Pakistan says communities living along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Durand Line want peace and stability, despite ongoing security concerns in the region.
Speaking during a weekly media briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said there are no major issues between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that residents on both sides of the Durand Line want peaceful relations and greater regional stability.
However, Andrabi claimed that terrorism originating from Afghan territory continues to undermine peace efforts.
He said Islamabad believes militant activity crossing from Afghanistan remains a significant obstacle to improving regional security and bilateral ties.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected such allegations, maintaining that no militant group is allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries.
Andrabi also said Pakistan remains diplomatically engaged on regional matters involving Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Somalia, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain Islamabad’s preferred means of resolving disputes.
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Afghanistan-Gambia ties discussed during Doha meeting
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Doha, has met with Omar Jah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to Qatar, to discuss bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest.
According to a statement from the Afghan embassy in Doha, Jah also oversees Gambian diplomatic affairs related to Afghanistan.
The meeting focused on Afghanistan-Gambia relations, the current security situation in Afghanistan, and potential investment opportunities in the country.
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and head of the Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party, has said that if capable statesmen had been in power, people living on both sides of the Durand Line could have moved freely across the line.
Speaking during a podcast interview, Achakzai said that countries with histories of major conflict, including Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom, now maintain far more open borders despite past wars. He said that in many such regions, only a “paper line” remains, with limited border restrictions.
Drawing comparisons with the disputed Durand Line boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Achakzai argued that a similar arrangement could have been possible in South Asia.
“What is the problem here? A Punjabi could dance in Kandahar and a Pashtun could come here. Even if we are not formally one country, we could have effectively functioned like one,” he said.
The Pakistani politician also referred to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the later U.S.-led intervention, saying Afghanistan has the right to seek war reparations from those countries to support reconstruction efforts.
Achakzai further criticised the treatment of Pashtuns in Pakistan, alleging that individuals in cities including Lahore and Karachi have faced detention and deportation.
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