Qureshi says Afghanistan must not allow its soil to be used against Pakistan
Pakistan
Qureshi said that as PTI’s vice chairman, he cannot deviate from party policy, but it is necessary to think about what the solution ultimately is.
LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan has provided significant support to Afghanistan, and Afghanistan should not allow its territory to be used against Pakistan. He said he is bound by party policy and that authority for negotiations has been given to Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who can make the best decision.
Speaking informally to journalists inside the courtroom after appearing before a special anti-terrorism court, Qureshi said that Pakistan has helped Afghanistan a great deal. He added that Pakistan’s legitimate demand is that Afghan soil should not be used against it. He said Afghanistan’s path to prosperity passes through Pakistan, and if Afghanistan wants stability, it must maintain good relations with Pakistan. He emphasized that Pakistan wants peace and that Afghanistan should stand with Pakistan against terrorism.
He said the situation on the Iran border is currently under control. Referring to India, he said Pakistan had defeated India in war and that God had granted the country honor, but the threat from India has not completely disappeared yet.
Responding to a question about negotiations, Qureshi said that as PTI’s vice chairman, he cannot deviate from party policy, but it is necessary to think about what the solution ultimately is. He said that even after resistance, reconciliation is inevitable, and that dialogue is the only way for the country to move forward. He added that PTI founder Imran Khan has delegated the authority for negotiations to Achakzai. “We are in jail and have limited information,” he said, adding that Achakzai can better decide what needs to be done.
Commenting on Fawad Chaudhry, Qureshi said that Fawad Chaudhry and he had been part of the same party. He said that when he was hospitalized, Fawad Chaudhry came to visit him, and later visited him at home as well. “What can I say to a guest who comes to my house—should I ask why you came to see me?” he remarked.
