Prime Minister Imran Khan called a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday (16 August) to discuss Afghanistan’s security situation.
The NSC will closely access the situation currently prevailing in Afghanistan because the Taliban has firmly taken control of the whole country after two decades of US rule.
President Ashraf Ghani abandoned the country on Sunday, conceding the 20-year battle to the militants.
The government’s astoundingly swift fall, with the Afghan Taliban seizing the presidential palace in Kabul late Sunday, sparked terror, and panic throughout the capital. Thousands of people were trying to escape from Kabul on Monday. There are videos of the chaos in Kabul as more people gathered at the airport to leave the country.
PM Imran Khan also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan with the President of Turkey, Erdogan. Imran Khan told Erdogan that NSC will have a meeting on Monday which will go over all the possible ways to come up with a practical solution. Both the leaders will consult each other again after the meeting to find a way to coordinate their efforts.
The prime minister underlined Pakistan’s commitment to continue its efforts in Afghanistan in favor of an inclusive political solution.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan has no favorites in Afghanistan
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, made it clear that the country has no favorites in Afghanistan and that it simply wants to maintain good relations with its neighbors.
The foreign minister stated at a press conference in Islamabad, that Pakistan would recognize the Taliban administration in accordance with international consensus, ground realities, and Pakistan’s national interests.
The main agenda of Pakistan is to see Afghanistan developed and moving towards prosperity. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan has consistently stated that there is no military solution to the Afghan issue and stresses the fact that all problems should be resolved through dialogue.
Qureshi said that Pakistan has always been focused on being a facilitator in Afghanistan. He added that Afghanistan is our neighboring country which is why we will always want to establish good relations with it.
