President Ashraf Ghani in an interview with a Pakistani media outlet said that Afghanistan’s biggest problem is the state-to-state relationship with Pakistan.
Asked whether he thought state-to-state relation problems with Pakistan was a bigger problem than that of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups, Ghani said: “Yes, absolutely. Those are threats. This is a fundamental solution (to those threats) because there are sanctuaries. Can anybody deny that there are Taliban offices in Quetta? You go and interview with them; if you want the addresses, I will give you all the addresses… Of course, I can give you the addresses. Our corps commander went and gave, and asked to take a ride corps commander of Quetta to give them the addresses. They are openly recruiting. They are financed. Their logistic and supplies, and sanctuary is against international rules.”
In response to a question by Pakistan’s Geo News reporter, he said: “A state-to-state relationship means an all-out attack; twice I was promised peace; before the spring of 2015, I was promised peace, a set of peace agreements. Instead, what did we gain? A vicious wholesale attack on us. In 2016, again, at the highest levels of the government of Pakistan, I was assured that within days, peace process was going to begin in earnest, and another series of attacks. And, in this environment, how do you expect us to behave with trust?”
“Trust needs to be established. We need to be assured that Pakistan is not going to give sanctuary to groups whose aim is (to) overthrow of a legitimate government. You cannot have it both ways. We tried that. I overcame years of distrust, years of discord; I came with an open mind and an open heart,” he added.
This comes after Sartaj Aziz senior advisor for Pakistan’s Prime Minister said that Islamabad will bring the Taliban to the tables of negotiations in the upcoming two or three weeks.
But in reply to a question by GEO news, about the steps that should be taken by Pakistan, Ghani said: “Step one, go after the declared terrorist groups. Clear. If you don’t take action on them, we don’t believe you. Step two, act on the quadrilateral process regarding reconcilables and irreconcilables so that peace can begin. Three; those who reject peace should be evicted from Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, critics said they believe that overcoming the rifts between Afghanistan and Pakistan needs cooperation from both countries.
“The two countries should try to build a trust environment between them and this will provide the ground for further cooperation,” said Fazlurrahman Fikrat, university lecturer.
“At first it was believed that the National Unity Government will ensure better ties with Pakistan, but activities of a number of circles inside government affected the Kabul-Islamabad relations and made it worse than it was before,” said Abdul Shukoor Salangi, member of Afghanistan’s Regional Studies Institute.
http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/26428-afghanistans-biggest-problem-is-af-pak-relations-ghani-
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