ISLAMABAD: The Doha agreement between the Afghan Taliban and the US proved detrimental to the region’s peace and stability, a National Assembly panel observed on Tuesday.

National Assembly Stan­ding Committee on Foreign Affairs’ head Mohsin Dawar said the nature of the agreement — signed in February 2020 in Qatar’s capital Doha to end the war in Afghanistan — and the preceding negotiations were exclusionary in nature.

Addressing the committee’s meeting on Tuesday, he added that Pakistan facilitated the deal without realising its potentially adverse implications for regional peace and stability.

He recalled that the engagement of elected representatives saved Pakistan from a potentially similar outcome during the issue of sending troops to Yemen. Instead, the parliament decided to maintain a neutral position in the conflict, Mr Dawar added.

Mr Dawar said there was a need for transparency and engagement of people’s representatives in the Pak-US counter-terrorism cooperation.

He stressed that counter-terrorism cooperation and defence dialogues should be carried out to advance Pakistan’s national interest and promote regional stability.

Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed and officials of foreign affairs and defence ministries briefed the committee on Pak-US counter-terrorism cooperation and defence dialogues.

The committee was told that the Pak-US Counter-Terrorism Dialogue took place in Islamabad on March 6 and 7. Similarly, mid-level defence dialogue took place in 2021 and 2023 in Washington.

FO officials said these dialogues have been revi­ved after a gap with significant changes in the format of the dialogue and two additional tracks, health and climate change, have been added.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...