PM Imran will decide whether to recognize Taliban govt or not: Sh Rasheed

Sh Rasheed said that attempts to make Pakistan a scapegoat have failed

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday said that the attempts to make Pakistan a scapegoat have failed.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan tried to convince former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani but he didn’t listen.

The interior minister said that the prime minister will decide whether to recognize the Taliban government or not.

Rasheed while rejecting Indian media reports of Pakistan receiving refugee from Afghanistan said that neither Pakistan would interfere in Afghanistan nor we would allow anyone to do it here.

He said there is complete peace and tranquility at Torkham and Chaman borders which are open for movement, trade and transit visa facility.

The minister went on to say that we are advocates of peace and we will not allow anyone s land to be used against us and we will not allow our land to be used against anyone.

“On the directives of the prime minister, on-arrival visas would be issued to those coming from Afghanistan while visas would also be issued to journalists coming from Afghanistan,” he said.

He said, “Pakistan has played a significant role in bringing the US and Taliban to the tale.”

Peaceful and stable Afghanistan 

On Tuesday, PM Imran while taking to a delegation of political leaders from Afghanistan had reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and assured the country’s steadfast support for efforts in that direction.

Imran Khan expressed strong support and solidarity for the fraternal people of Afghanistan, linked to the people of Pakistan through immutable bonds of faith, history, geography, culture and kin-ship.

He also underlined that no other country was more desirous of peace and stability in Afghanistan than Pakistan.

The premier further said in the current situation, great responsibility rested on the Afghan leaders to work constructively together to lead Afghanistan on the path of sustainable peace, stability and development.

He underscored the importance of all sides working to secure an inclusive political solution.

The delegation members thanked the Prime Minister for receiving them and appreciated Pakistan’s support for the peace efforts.

They emphasized the multi-ethnic nature of Afghan society and the importance of an inclusive dispensation.

The Afghan delegation also reiterated the desire to further strengthen the brotherly relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan.