Afghan interim govt must move from ‘militant mindset’ to statesmanship: Tarar

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar urged the Afghan interim government on Tuesday to transition from a "militant mindset" to a more statesmanlike approach for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. Speaking at an International Parliamentarians Congress gathering, Tarar questioned whether Afghanistan possessed the necessary political will to pursue peace, emphasizing that altering the current mindset was crucial.

He stressed that Pakistan and Afghanistan, with a history of deep ties, had hosted over four million Afghan refugees over four decades and had repeatedly attempted to resolve outstanding issues through negotiations. However, Tarar identified militancy and alleged terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan as significant hindrances to peace.

Recent tensions, including cross-border attacks and Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan, have further complicated relations. Tarar argued that a peaceful resolution could unlock opportunities for enhanced trade and regional connectivity, particularly by linking Central Asian nations with Pakistani ports through Afghanistan. He highlighted Afghanistan's youthful demographic but raised concerns over women's limited participation in the workforce and restricted rights, including access to education and assembly.

Tarar noted a disconnect between the Afghan interim government and the broader Afghan populace, who yearned for peace, stability, and economic prosperity. He reiterated that only lasting peace could lead to prosperity and warned that Pakistan's pursuit of peace should not be misconstrued as weakness, underscoring that Islamabad would defend itself against any attempts to destabilize the region.