ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan once again cautioned that Afghanistan could descend into civil war if Taliban do not form an inclusive government including all factions of the society.
“If Taliban do not include all factions, sooner or later they will have again a sort of a civil war and it would impact Pakistan,” the premier said in an interview with British broadcaster BBC on Tuesday.
The premier pointed out that Pakistan’s biggest worry was that the huge humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan will lead to a refugee problem. “Chaotic and unstable Afghanistan will be an ideal place for terrorists that will impact Pakistan too,” he added.
To a question, he replied after twenty years of civil war, Taliban have come into power. He, however, expressing his optimism said that Taliban leadership’s statements after coming into power had been very encouraging.
“At the moment it’s too early to say anything… it’s barely been a month after 20 years of war they have come back into power,” said the premier while responding to a questions regarding concerns over women rights under the Taliban regime.
The Prime Minister, however, said preventing women from accessing education would be un-Islamic. When pressed on whether the Taliban would realistically meet his criteria for formal recognition, he repeatedly called on the international community to give the group more time.
Earlier in the day, the Taliban said that they admired PM Imran’s efforts for peace, stability and an inclusive government in Afghanistan. “We do not see the positive statements of Prime Minister Imran as interference in the internal matters of Afghanistan,” Spokesperson for Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid said during a news conference in Kabul.
