Afghanistan President: Pakistan Continues to Harbor Insurgents at Davos Conference
Published on: March 3, 2024.
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Afghanistan’s President Accuses Pakistan of Sheltering Insurgent Group
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani criticized Pakistan on Thursday for harboring an insurgent group that supports the Taliban in their conflict against Kabul and the United States. His remarks contradict the earlier statement made by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Ghani, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, questioned the credibility of Khan’s denial regarding the presence of the Haqqani network in Pakistan: “And you believed him? One can also say that the earth does not revolve around the sun.”
Highlighting the need for a constructive engagement, Ghani emphasized the importance of severing the special relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan. He believes that such a move would benefit both countries, the region, and the world as a whole.
Refusing to comment on Ghani’s accusations, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry is yet to respond.
US-Taliban Talks Show Limited Progress
Ghani also expressed his disappointment with the progress made during talks between the United States and the Taliban. Afghanistan has long demanded a complete ceasefire before engaging in talks with the Taliban.
Speaking on behalf of the Afghan public, Ghani stated, “The desired outcome for the public is an end to violence. We want the Taliban to embrace a political process.”
Promising Future for Afghanistan
Despite increasing violence in Afghanistan over the past three years, Ghani reassured that the country will not collapse once the United States withdraws its troops. He emphasized the strength of Afghanistan’s military forces, which have significantly improved over time.
Ghani confidently declared, “Our military forces will not collapse. We have built the capacity to uphold our state.”
Environment: Afghanistan’s Biggest Challenge
While acknowledging Afghanistan’s four-decade-long conflict, Ghani identified the environment as the country’s greatest challenge. He claimed that climate change, access to clean water, and other environmental concerns could push millions around the world into poverty.
Ghani called for a regional approach to address climate change and suggested that the environment could serve as a unifying factor for South Asia, similar to the way steel and coal brought Europe together.
He emphasized the global responsibility for combating climate change, stating, “Everybody is responsible. Nobody is innocent.”
