PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has urged both Islamabad and Kabul to remove the trust deficit and improve bilateral relations, which is essential for restoring sustainable peace and strengthening trade and economy in the region.

Speaking at the 5th foundation day of QWP at Dalazak Road here on Sunday, Mr Sherpao said that the rising wave of terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan had put the peoples’ stability in the region at stake.

He said that the increasing incidents of extremism in the region were detrimental to the progress and stability, and therefore extended cooperation and cordial relations between the two neighbouring states would help control the menace of terrorism.

He said that the decade-long issue of terrorism could only be addressed through mutual cooperation.

Mr Sherpao rejected the US’s Afghan policy, saying Pakistan had not been taken on board.

He said that the US policy would seriously shake the balance of power in the region, which might lead to instability and turmoil. He asked the US to revisit its policy, remove flaws and evolve a proactive Afghan policy as per the wishes and input of Pakistan otherwise no one would accept the dictation.

Warns America’s Afghan policy can lead to instability

The QWP leader lamented delaying tactics in the Fata-KP merger, saying that putting the issue on the backburner would increase the sense of deprivation among the tribal people. He said that the people of Fata were also citizens of Pakistan, but they had been denied their rights and equal status in the country.

The people of Fata, he said, had rendered enormous sacrifices for the stability and protection of the borders of the country but their sacrifices had been ignored by the federal government and they were intentionally kept deprived of the rewards.

He said that the Frontier Crimes Regulation should be abolished.

The merger, he said, was the demand of QWP from the day-one which stood firmly with the tribal people and would never step back from this cause.

He said that his party was the staunch supporter of the rule of law and democracy. He said that any tussle among the institutions would undermine the system in the country.

Mr Sherpao said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had failed to bring any change in the lives of the people. He claimed the provincial government could not pursue its case for share in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. He rejected the results of by-election on NA-4, Peshawar, and demanded vote recount.

He said the ruling party in KP had claimed to make a new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but it could not bring any change in the lives of the people which had exposed their credentials.

QWP provincial chairman Sikandar Sherpao, central general secretary Hashim Babar and other party leaders also spoke on the occasion.

They presented resolutions for KP’s share in CPEC and NFC award, approval of Fata reforms, implementation of National Action Plan and improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which were unanimously approved.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2017