Sustained engagement with Taliban remains imperative: Sadiq

Pakistan on Wednesday said sustained engagement with the Interim Afghan government remained imperative as Islamabad believed a ‘new balance’ was needed to be devised with the Taliban.

Addressing the fourth Moscow format meeting that began on Wednesday in Moscow, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq said Pakistan was a firm adherent to the primacy of a regional approach to the situation in Afghanistan.

He asked the international community to consider to cooperate with the Afghan authorities on a ‘hierarchy of priorities’, especially where the Interim Afghan Government has shown a commitment to act — countering terrorism and combating drug trafficking could serve as stepping stones of such cooperation.

“The pressing humanitarian needs of the Afghan people must be de-hyphenated from any political considerations.

Beyond the confines of humanitarian assistance, he opined, they should focus on generating economic activity within Afghanistan to ensure a sustainable future.

“Exploring realistic pathways towards unfreezing Afghanistan’s financial assets would be pivotal. A roadmap for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan is equally important”.

He said Pakistan believed the region must continue to play a leading role in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan. “ While others may have the choice to walk away, we do not enjoy that luxury”.

Sadiq said now that the war had ended, there was a unique opportunity to secure durable peace in Afghanistan. “We are confident that our Afghan brethren will capitalize on this opportunity.”

Representatives from Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are participating in the meeting.