A veteran Pashtun nationalist leader has warned talks on peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan will not come to fruition without the participation of the government in Kabul.
Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan expressed his surprise over the peace talks in Islamabad in the absence of Afghan government representatives.
“Pakistan, the US, Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries are attending the Afghan peace talks in Islamabad, where the Afghan government will not be represented,” the outspoken politician said.
Addressing an event marking the death anniversaries of Abdul Ghaffar Khan at the Bacha Khan Markaz, Asfandyar made clear talks about Afghanistan without the participation of the Afghan government could not succeed.
Afghan Cultural Attaché Hazrat Wali Hotak and senior ANP leaders Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Mian Iftikhar Hussain also attended the event.
Asfandyar told policymakers against dangers of “reckless steps” they were taking at a time when the country was facing increasing international isolation.
“Pakistan is facing isolation due to flawed and failed policies,” he said, asking Pakistani policymakers to learn from the mistake of the former Soviet Union.
