Forming Afghan govt responsibility of the locals: Fawad Chaudhry

Forming the government in Afghanistan is the responsibility of the Afghan people, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said stressing that regional powers will have to help to stabilize the country.

In an interview with TRT World, the information minister said that Pakistan’s efforts for inclusive government in Afghanistan must be supported.

“Pakistan is working with regional and international powers for an inclusive government in Afghanistan,” he added.

The minister underscored that both Pakistan and Turkey were important players in the issue.

“Both the countries are actually partners in peace as far as Afghanistan is concerned,” Fawad said.

He cautioned that if the world repeated the same mistake of abandoning Afghanistan, it will create a hub of extremist organisations right at the border of Pakistan, which is hugely worrisome for the country.

He recalled that when Soviet Union left Afghanistan, Pakistan had to deal with a host of problems that were left behind.

“Now when the US and Nato forces are leaving Afghanistan we are again in a quagmire,” he stated.

The information minister said if Afghanistan does not get stabilised, millions of Afghans will start moving towards Pakistan.

“Pakistan is already hosting 3.5 million Afghan refugees and our economy is not strong enough to take more refugees,” Fawad explained.

In response to a question, Fawad said at the moment there is no refugee crisis.

He said Pakistan has evacuated foreign nationals from Kabul and that PIA evacuated more than 2,000 people.

He said Pakistan’s borders were actually normal right now but if the instability continues in Afghanistan, then it has a comprehensive plan to deal with the migrants.

“We do not want Afghan migrants get into Pakistan but we will make arrangements for them at the border,” he reiterated.