Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday strongly urged Afghanistan’s interim government to abandon its “militant mindset” and adopt the approach of a responsible state if lasting peace in the region is to be achieved.
Addressing a seminar titled “Afghan Predicament and the Trajectory to Peace” in Islamabad, Tarar said the root cause of ongoing tensions between the two neighbouring countries lies in the Afghan side’s failure to move beyond a militant approach.
“The interim Afghan government needs to move out of its militant mindset into a mindset of a statesman or state,” the minister stated.
Tarar emphasised that Pakistan has always believed in peace and peaceful coexistence. He recalled that Pakistan has hosted around four million Afghan refugees over several decades, reflecting the country’s goodwill toward the Afghan people.
He noted that Pakistan has repeatedly tried to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue. High-level Pakistani delegations have visited Afghanistan, while talks have also been held in third countries including Istanbul and Doha.
“Peace can be achieved, yes. Was peace given a chance, yes. But is there a will to achieve peace? The answer, unfortunately, is no,” Tarar said.
The minister identified violent extremism and militancy as the main obstacles to better relations and regional trade connectivity. He reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing concerns over the presence of terrorist safe havens and members of internationally proscribed organisations on Afghan soil.
Tarar also criticised what he described as “two forms of denial” prevailing in Afghanistan the denial of the terrorism problem and the denial of basic human rights to certain segments of Afghan society under a self-created ideology.
He stressed that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness and that Islamabad will continue to protect its people and territory against cross-border threats.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between the two countries in recent weeks, following a series of cross-border incidents and Pakistani military responses against terrorist targets.
Tarar concluded that only a genuine shift in mindset by the Afghan interim government can pave the way for a sustainable and peaceful future for both nations.
