WASHINGTON: National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf has underscored the need for a politically negotiated settlement of the Afghan conflict, saying that Pakistan would not accept the ‘forceful takeover’ of Kabul.
“We will not accept a forceful takeover in Afghanistan,” he said while addressing a press conference held at the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC late Wednesday, wrapping up a week of talks with the US administration.
He stressed that the only solution for peace in Afghanistan was a political one. “We are with the international community on where this goes,” he said, adding, “But the world also needs to be clear that the US invest in a political settlement.”
Moeed Yusuf further said the harsh rhetoric of the Afghan government against Pakistan was making it impossible to maintain good relations. “We are beginning to see a very conscious, deliberate effort by the Afghan government to scapegoat Pakistan,” he said, adding that Afghanistan wanted “to shift the entire blame of its failures.”
“Pakistan wanted to have very good relations with the Afghan government, however, unfortunately, the vitriol and rhetoric coming from there are making that impossible,” the adviser added.
He also urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to compromise and reach a peace settlement. Yusuf stressed that the internationally recognized government in Kabul needed to stop looking for a military victory. “There will have to be some compromise given the ground reality. However, the violence will have to stop,” he added.
The adviser said his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, and others in President Joe Biden’s administration did not make specific requests of Pakistan, but discussed how quickly we can get all these actors in one room to have a sincere conversation.
He dismissed talk of Islamabad exerting leverage over the Taliban. “Whatever limited leverage we had, we used,” he said, pointing to Pakistan encouraging the Taliban to enter talks with the Afghan government in Doha.
“Peace in Afghanistan is nonnegotiable for us. We, under no circumstances, are prepared to see protracted instability that in the past has caused spillover into Pakistan,” he concluded.
