The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Saturday said Afghanistan hopes that the next Pakistani prime minister would fight terror and take practical steps to remove terrorists’ safe havens in Pakistan.
Afghanistan wants friendly relations with Pakistan, the MoFA spokesman Shekib Mustaghni said, adding that Islamabad must take action against terrorists.
“We hope that Pakistan will take serious, honest and practical steps in the fight against terrorism and will uproot their (terrorists’) safe havens and training camps, and also remove their funding and equipping centers on the Pakistani soil,” Mustaghni told TOLOnews.
Afghan analysts said Islamabad’s policy towards Kabul would not change. The analysts said Pakistani military control’s Pakistan’s foreign policy – which will not allow the civilian government to amend its policy towards Kabul.
“Afghanistan cannot do anything by repeating the proverbs which says I will act against you when I caught you. We saw that they came in the field and we did nothing. Or we cannot do anything by saying we are lions and will tear them up. We saw it and realized that we are not lions. Minds are for thinking. God has given human minds and tongue to use. Government should use them and negotiate with Pakistan,” said Sayed Ishaq Gailani, an MP and head of National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan.
Analysts meanwhile criticized the Afghan government over tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, saying that Afghanistan was not successful in managing its foreign policy.
The critics said Kabul has lost many chances that could be used in its benefit in its foreign policy issues.
“Pakistani military has more influence than the Pakistani (civilian) government when it comes to Pakistan’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan and India. Moreover, I think that currently Nawaz Sharif's Muslim League party will be in charge,” said Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, head of New National Front of Afghanistan.
It is not known who will become the next prime minister in Pakistan, but Pakistan Muslim League party has the majority of seats in Pakistani parliament and it is possible that the next prime minister will be elected from this party.
On Friday, Nawaz Sharif resigned as Pakistan’s prime minister despite having reservations about the court order that disqualified him from serving.
In a brief statement, Sharif’s office said Sharif relinquished his charge as prime minister after learning that the Supreme Court disqualified him because of corruption allegations.
The Pakistan Supreme Court on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from the post because of allegations against him and his family in the Panama Papers case. He was disqualified from holding office for life, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf said. Sharif resigned from the post after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has also been disqualified. Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, who was touted to be his successor, will not be allowed to contest elections.
Disqualifying the prime minister from holding office, the judges said Sharif had been dishonest to Parliament and the courts and was not fit to hold the position. The top court has ordered for the corruption case against Sharif to be referred to the National Accountability Bureau.