TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Expressing disappointment over the allegations against Pakistan from the Afghan side, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that no Country has tried harder to get the Taliban on the dialogue table than Pakistan.
In his address at the International Conference on “South Asia-Central Asia Regional Connectivity-Challenges and Opportunities” held in Tashkent on Friday, the prime minister said that we have made every effort to get the Taliban on the dialogue table and have a peaceful settlement.
“To blame Pakistan for what is happening in Afghanistan is extremely unfair,” he said categorically stating that Pakistan is a partner in peace.
. @President_uz Shavkat Mirziyoyev received PM @ImranKhanPTI at International Congress Centre Tashkent, to participate in the Plenary Session of the conference titled ‘Central and South Asia 2021: Regional Connectivity: Challenges and Opportunities’#PMIKinUzbekistan pic.twitter.com/aoOO5Lut9m
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) July 16, 2021
Imran Khan said that Pakistan has suffered 70,000 casualties and a huge economic loss due to the unrest in Afghanistan.
The prime minister said that three million Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan for decades. He added that we do not have the capacity and economic strength to get more inflow of Afghan refugees.
Emphasizing that regional peace and stability are of paramount importance for enhanced trade and economic cooperation in the region, the prime minister said that the Afghan situation and unresolved disputes are the key challenges to peace and stability in the region.
The prime minister said that Afghanistan is the natural land bridge between Central Asia and South Asia, and peace in Afghanistan is the most critical factor for regional connectivity.
Imran Khan said that Pakistan’s foremost priority is stability in Afghanistan as it directly affects us. He assured that Pakistan will continue to support all initiatives for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
The prime minister further said that Pakistan welcomes cooperation between Gwadar Port and other ports of the region. He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and it will promote regional cooperation.
