The hardline Islamists face the enormous challenge of shifting gears from insurgent group to governing power, days after the United States fully withdrew its troops and ended two decades of war.
Pakistan has stepped up its oil and gas imports compared to last year as the power sector demand surges. This is due to the resumption of economic activities and industrial revival following the relaxation of COVID-19 related restrictions on different sectors.
The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan was in touch with regional and international partners. It was essential for the world community to stay engaged to support the people of Afghanistan, economically and to help rebuild the country.
Wars can be compared to earthquakes. Some are violent and heavy in human losses, and some are relatively short and painless, but always under the surface, the tectonic plates shift and will not sit the same again.
Islamabad is particularly worried about militant fighters from a separate, Pakistani Taliban group crossing from Afghanistan and launching lethal attacks on its territory.
Foreign Minister Maas also highlighted the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan-Germany diplomatic relations during 2021.
China shares a border with Afghanistan in its Northwest Xinjiang region, terrorist groups that once gathered in Afghanistan, including the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), posed threats to China’s national security.
The UNSC meeting prevailed under the Indian presidency had formulated a resolution on Afghanistan, demanding the Taliban to abide by its pledges, but China and Russia abstained seeing the loopholes within it. Once more, this debacle strengthens the China-Russian cooperation in the region, showing their likemindedness and resolve on Afghanistan.
The transition presents an enormous test for the Islamists in a desperately poor, diplomatically isolated country where deep-seated political and social problems have been compounded by more than four decades of war.
