Pakistan to host Afghan Peace Conference from July 17-19: FO spokesperson

• Pakistan to host Afghan Peace Conference from July 17-19; a number of Afghan leaders have confirmed their participation.
• Afghan Taliban not invited to the moot.
• Pakistan hopes that this conference "will provide impetus to the ongoing efforts for peace in Afghanistan".

Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri on Thursday said that he can confirm that Pakistan is hosting the Afghan Peace Conference from July 17-19.

"Any speculations about postponement of the conference are entirely baseless," said Chaudhri, during his weekly media briefing in Islamabad.

He said the conference will "provide momentum to the ongoing efforts for peace in Afghanistan".

According to Chaudhri, a number of Afghan leaders have already confirmed their participation. To a question, he responded by saying the Taliban are not among the invitees.

"They have visited Pakistan many times and we’ve had detailed discussions with them on the Afghan peace process. The aim of the forthcoming peace conference is to engage with and consult all sides on the Afghan peace process," said the spokesperson.

He said Pakistan hopes that this conference "will provide impetus to the ongoing efforts for peace in Afghanistan".

Pakistan 'cannot dictate to us', Afghan Taliban spokesperson says

Chaudhri said that Pakistan has repeatedly called for an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan.

"We have no favourites in Afghanistan and we stand with the people of Afghanistan," he stressed.

He went on to state that Pakistan is "engaged with all sides in Afghanistan" as part of the country's efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process.

Sources told Geo News that Prime Minister Imran Khan will host the conference that will see all non-Taliban factions attend.

Among those to attend will be Abdullah Abdullah, who leads the High Council for National Reconciliation and former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, the sources said.

Salahuddin Rabbani, Omar Zakhilwal, Haji Muhammad Mohaqiq, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Ahmed Wali Masoud will also be in attendance, they added.

According to the sources, the participants will share their views regarding the future of Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is on a two-day visit to Uzbekistan, will make a formal announcement from Tashkent regarding the conference tomorrow, after his meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the sources said.

Security situation in Afghanistan

Chaudhri, in his briefing, also spoke about Pakistan's concern regarding the evolving security situation in Afghanistan.

"As the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is nearing completion, we remain concerned at the evolving security situation in Afghanistan," he said.

"We once again reiterate the imperative of a political settlement in Afghanistan," the spokesperson added.

Chaudhri said that while Pakistan has played an important role in the peace process and it remains committed to facilitate it in future as well, ultimately, it is the Afghans themselves who have to decide about their future.

"At this critical juncture, all Afghan stakeholders must work out an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan," he said.

He said Pakistan also calls for a meaningful engagement of the world community for promoting reconstruction and economic development in the post-conflict Afghanistan which is vital for sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"We also believe that a peaceful settlement of the Afghan dispute should also lead to a dignified and time-bound return of Afghan refugees," he said.

Pakistan hosting more than 3 million Afghan refugees, does not have capacity for more: Qureshi

"This is the time that friends and partners of Afghanistan must remain closely engaged to advance shared goals and objectives," he added.

Responding to a question regarding Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants in Afghanistan and whether they will be sent back to Pakistan, and the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan, he said that Pakistan "has always maintained that peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest".

He said Pakistan emphasises on peace in Afghanistan because:

• The security situation in Afghanistan has a direct bearing on the security situation in Pakistan. Any security vacuum in Afghanistan can be exploited by spoilers. We have shared evidence of Indian use of Afghan soil for state sponsored terrorism against Pakistan.
• Pakistan continues to host over three million Afghan refugees for over 4 decades. We are not in a position to cater to further influx of Afghan refugees, and for that peace and stability in Afghanistan are important.
• Economic integration and regional connectivity cannot be achieved without peace and stability in Afghanistan. Peace in Afghanistan is essential for successful implementation of regional connectivity initiatives.

Taliban control over Spin Boldak crossing

Speaking of the Taliban gaining control of the Spin Boldak crossing point, he said that this crossing point is used by over 20,000 people on a daily basis.

Taliban find three billion Pakistani rupees at checkposts snatched from Afghan forces

"The crossing helps sustain many Afghan families. It is therefore important that the border is re-opened as soon as possible," he said.

'India must arrest perpetrators of Lahore attack'

The FO spokesperson also spoke about Pakistan's neighbour to the east: India.

"Pakistan has yet again presented clear evidence of India’s financial and material support of terrorist activities in Pakistan," said Chaudhri, referring to a detailed media briefing following a probe into the terrorist attack in Lahore, which unearthed the involvement of RAW, India's intelligence agency.

Mastermind behind Johar Town blast an Indian citizen, associated with RAW: Moeed Yusuf

"We have pointed out in the past as well that India has been actively aiding and abetting terrorism to destabilise Pakistan and imperil regional peace," he said.

Chaudhri reminded everyone that last year Pakistan had shared "irrefutable evidence of India’s sponsorship of terrorists, violence and instability in [the country] resulting in indiscriminate attacks against innocent civilians leading to loss of precious lives".

"We call upon India to eschew the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, dismantle its terror infrastructure against Pakistan, arrest the perpetrators of the Lahore attack and bring them to justice without any delay," the spokesperson said.

Over 390 Kashmiris martyred since 2019

Speaking of the situation in India-occupied Kashmir, he said Yaum-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir was observed on July 13 to pay homage to the 22 Kashmiris, who laid down their lives fighting the brutal Dogra forces in Srinagar in 1931.

"The courage of these martyrs galvanised an unparalleled struggle for self-determination in 1931 that continues till date," said the spokesperson.

He said over 390 Kashmiris have been martyred by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir since August 5, 2019 alone.

"Only recently, an elderly woman was deliberately crushed to death under an army vehicle used by the Indian occupation forces while she was crossing the road in Nadihal village on Bandipora-Srinagar road," Chaudhri said.

"We once again call upon the international community, particularly the United Nations and human rights organisations, to investigate the persistent extra-judicial killings of Kashmiris by Indian occupation forces and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice," he added.