ISLAMABAD, July 8: A delegation of Pakistani parliamentarians having members from different political parties in its three-day interaction with the UK government, parliamentary leaders and opinion makers expressed deep concern over the fallout of Afghan endgame following the planned exit of the US/Nato forces in 2014 and its impact for Pakistan.

The ten-member panel included Ishaq Dar, Raza Rabbani, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Anusha Rahman Khan, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi, Dr Arif Alvi and Shahid Hamid.

The delegates highlighted that as the Nato and US forces were planning for a withdrawal from Afghanistan, the security, political and economic future balance of the region must be carefully planned with deep engagement of Pakistan.

It was also underlined that Pakistan was the biggest stakeholder on the issue of post-2014 Afghanistan – hosting 2.5 million refugees, having suffered and sacrificed the most after 9/11 with over 40,000 losses of lives of civilians and soldiers – hence the Afghan reconciliation process required the country’s proactive participation.

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