Nawaz Sharif, top Afghan officials discuss 'matters of mutual interest' in London

Government representatives slams former PM Nawaz Sharif for meeting Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib

Web Desk

July 24, 2021

Afghanistan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib (left) in a meeting with former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif in London. Photo: NSC Afghanistan/ Twitter

Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib calls on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in London.
Top Afghan officials, Nawaz discuss matters of mutual interest, says NSCA.
Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry says every enemy of Pakistan is a friend of Nawaz Sharif.

London-based PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif was met by Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib and State Minister for Peace Sayed Sadat Naderi.

The National Security Council of Afghanistan (NSCA) gave an update about the meeting on Twitter Saturday, saying that the the Afghan state minister for peace and NSA discussed "matters of mutual interest" with the former Pakistan prime minister.

The officials on both sides agreed that they would both benefit from the "policy of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs," the NSCA was quoted as saying by Indian news agency ANI.

They also noted that "strengthening democracy" will put both neighbours on the path towards stability and prosperity.

Soon after news broke of the meeting, government representatives took to Twitter to condemn the move.

'Nawaz seems intent on seeking revenge from his own country' — Asad Umar

Minister for Planning Asad Umar reminded everyone that Mohib was a man who had recently likened Pakistan to a brothel.

"It seems that Nawaz is intent on seeking revenge from his own country," Umar said.

"May God keep us safe from all such evil intent," he added.

'Common interest can only be to attack Pakistan' — Shireen Mazari

Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari scoffed at the idea of "matters of mutual interest" being discussed during the meeting.

"Seriously? After Mohib referred to Pakistan — not the PTI government, but our country — as a 'brothel', common RAW interest can only be to attack Pakistan," she wrote.

"Such shameless self-interest of Sharif to preserve looted wealth and country be damned," Mazari remarked, adding that Maryam's retweet of the NSC Afghanistan post is tantamount to "support".

'Sending Nawaz Sharif out of Pakistan was dangerous' — Fawad Chaudhry

Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, meanwhile, gave a strong reaction to Nawaz's meeting with Afghan officials.

In a statement on Twitter, Chaudhry said that sending Nawaz out of Pakistan was dangerous because such people become accomplices in international conspiracies.

He said that Nawaz's meeting with Mohib, the biggest ally of RAW in Afghanistan, is an example of such an operation.

Chaudhry said that Modi, Mohib or [Afghanistan vice president] Amrullah Saleh, every enemy of Pakistan, is a close friend of Nawaz Sharif.

'Afghan NSA brought Nawaz Sharif a message from Modi' — Shahbaz Gill

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, too, slammed the former prime minister for meeting the Afghan NSA in London.

In a statement, Dr Gill said that the meeting and "keen interest" with a person who has vilified and abused Pakistan shows the former prime minister’s agenda. He claimed that the Afghan official brought a message from Indian Prime Minister Modi.

He added that the upcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will be shown as controversial so that the elections in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir could be shown under the same circumstances.

'PTI govt can't comprehend essence of diplomacy' — Maryam Nawaz

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, responding to the criticism, said that she doesn't think the PTI government can "comprehend" the "essence of diplomacy".

"Pakistan’s peaceful existence with its neighbours is the very foundation of Nawaz Sharif’s ideology for which he has worked tirelessly," Maryam wrote on Twitter.

"It is the very essence of diplomacy to talk to everyone, listen to their point of view and convey one’s own message across: something this government doesn’t comprehend and hence is a complete failure on the international front," said Maryam.