ISLAMABAD: Declaring that the implementation of the US-Taliban pact will not be a “smooth affair”, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has asked the international community to beware of “spoilers” who can create hurdles in the restoration of peace to the war-torn Afghanistan.

Addressing a news conference on Sunday following his return from the Qatari capital, Doha, where he represented Pakistan in the signing ceremony of Afghan peace deal, FM Qureshi said the “spoilers” present inside and outside Afghanistan could create hurdles in the restoration of peace to the neighbouring country.

“There will be hiccups. There will be difficulties. There will be no smooth sailing,” said the foreign minister while terming the signing of the peace accord a “great progress” towards restoration of peace in the region.

Mr Qureshi was of the opinion that the international community, particularly the US, would have to keep a strict vigilance on those spoilers and stop them from disturbing the plan for restoration of peace.

Qureshi suggests timely start of intra-Afghan dialogue, prisoners’ swap, troop withdrawal to keep Doha peace momentum

The foreign minister said that during his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo he had suggested a number of steps to him that Mr Qureshi said would help advance the peace process. He said that he had highlighted the need for devising a mechanism “to identify and blame and shame the spoilers” who could play any negative role.

Mr Qureshi said that in his meeting with the US secretary of state he had called for “maintaining the momentum” that had been generated by the peace agreement.

He also asked both the sides to swap prisoners as part of confidence building measures, explaining that “optics” also played an important role in bridging gaps. He elaborated that the presence of representatives of nearly 50 countries at the time of signing of the peace deal in Doha had been seen as a positive development. Similarly, he said, the steps such as release of prisoners and the withdrawal of US troops as per Doha agreement would provide good “optics”.

Mr Qureshi said there must be no further delay in the start of intra-Afghan dialogue in order to keep the hopes for Afghan peace alive. After the historic peace deal in Doha, he said, it was a “test” for the Afghan leadership whether they would show flexibility and take decisions in the larger interest of Afghanistan and its people.

About “political uncertainties” in Afghanistan, the foreign minister said they could only be addressed by the US. Pakistan could not do much in this regard as it was an internal matter of Afghanistan, he said.

Besides, he said the US and the international community would have to play a role in the reconstruction of the war-torn country in the post-conflict era and in the return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan.

The foreign minister said the world was lauding Pakistan’s role in facilitating the Afghan peace process and even those who used to criticise Islamabad in the past were praising it at present.

He said that during his stay in Doha, he also got the opportunity to meet his counterparts from other countries, including Norway and Central Asian republics. He said he also met the secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and highlighted the need for enhancement of regional connectivity and trade cooperation.

Responding to a question, the foreign minister said the release of prisoners was logical as it was essential to take the process forward, adds APP.

Mr Qureshi expressed the hope that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani would act prudently and not overlook the importance of optics in this process.

He said Pakistan always wished well for the Afghan peace process but the basic decisions would have to be made by the Afghans for the future of their country.

Asked about the US expectations from Pakistan, the foreign minister said Pakistan took decisions in its own interests as the country would be the net beneficiary of Afghan peace deal that would enhance the bilateral economic activity besides paving way for the completion of TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline project), CASA-1000 (Central Asia-South Asia power project) and other projects.

The foreign minister said on its side, Pakistan had successfully dismantled the terrorist networks, revived peace, merged the tribal areas into mainstream Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with restoration of health and education facilities. He said fencing of the Afghan border was also in progress and after completion, Pakistan would be able to fight and keep vigilance on anti-state forces more effectively.

In reply to a question about the human rights situation in Kashmir, Mr Qureshi said the world’s mindset was changing towards what was happening in India-held Kashmir and the world leaders and parliaments were speaking up and criticising the situation not only in India-held Kashmir but also in New Delhi.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2020