US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham Friday praised the Pakistani government for helping to evacuate people wanting to leave Afghanistan and said that Pakistan must be part of a “sustainable solution” to the conflict in the country.
“Very much appreciate the efforts of the Pakistani government to assist with the evacuation of U.S. citizens, our allies, and other nations,” he wrote on Twitter, after speaking with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Asad Majeed Khan, on the situation in Afghanistan.
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“Any sustainable solution in Afghanistan must include Pakistan,” Senator Graham said, calling the region “very complicated” and the period “dangerous”.
“We all must remember Pakistan is a nuclear-armed nation,” he said, adding that “there is a Pakistan version of the Taliban who wishes (to) topple the Pakistani government and military,” referring to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Just spoke with the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States about the situation in Afghanistan.
Very much appreciate the efforts of the Pakistani government to assist with the evacuation of U.S. citizens, our allies, and other nations.— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 27, 2021
On his part, the Pakistani Ambassador said he had spoken to Senator Graham on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, and briefed him on Pakistan’s efforts to support evacuations from Afghanistan.
According to media reports, Pakistan has so far evacuated a total of 7,629 people of different nationalities through air and land routes, as it continues to evacuate diplomatic staff and foreign nationals including the personnel of international institutions stranded in Afghanistan.
#US Senator @LindseyGrahamSC appreciates #Pakistan's critical role for #AfghanPeaceProcess as well as its lasting strategic significance & #counterterrorism commitment. #POTUS #Blinken #UNSC #imrankhanPTI #SMQureshi #Afghanistan #AfghanTaliban #CASSThinkers https://t.co/ITO0SXAOFw
— Syed Muhammad Ali (@SyedAli78304182) August 28, 2021
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Pakistan hopes for the US to cooperate in Afghanistan due to mutual interests
Earlier this week Pakistan’ National Security Advisor (NSA), Moeed Yusuf pointed out in an interview that Pakistan and the US must become aligned given the state of affairs. “Pakistan is the victim. We had nothing to do with 9/11. … We teamed up with the US to fight back … and after that, there is a major backlash on Pakistan,” Yusuf said. “But let’s let all that pass. We need to work out how to move forward as partners because neither side can do without the other in terms of stability in the region.”
He made it clear that the leverage on the Taliban was now in the hands of western powers.
A meeting of the NSC chaired by PM Imran Khan was convened today to deliberate on the emerging situation in Afghanistan. It was noted that Pak remains committed to an inclusive political settlement as the way forward representing all Afg ethnic groups. https://t.co/fATywCuvAI
— Moeed W. Yusuf (@YusufMoeed) August 16, 2021
Time for the world to help Afghanistan achieve peace
“It is time now that the world helps Afghanistan achieve peace. The Taliban are trying to reach an inclusive political settlement and they are speaking of peace, so we should help them,” PM addresses the nation at a ceremony at Islamabad’s Convention Centre to unveil PTI’s performance over the last three years.
He also reiterated the statement he had been making on Afghanistan for years; “there is no military solution for Afghanistan”. He claimed that the costs of military engagement had been immense for the US.
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Also, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region has suffered drastically because of the volatile Afghan situation for years. Thus, Pakistan’s stance is on advocating a peaceful settlement and has no favourites in Afghanistan. He negates the false news that the Taliban won with the help of Pakistan.
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Via APP with additional inputs from GVS