Khan under fire for remarks on Afghan interim set-up

KABUL’s internal affairs.

Imran Khan’s repeated comments about Afghanistan’s future government were blatant interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, the ex-president tweeted on Tuesday.

“I recommend to the gov’t of Pakistan & others to commit to friendly relations with AFG on principles of mutual respect to sovereignty & dignified relationship,” he wrote.

Ex-ambassador Omar Zakhilwal also condemned the prime ministerial suggestion. “Like any other democracy, we have our internal political differences.

“If there is one thing on which we are fully united, that is demanding full respect from neighbours for our sovereignty. It is no country’s business to suggest what type of govt Afg should or should not have,” he tweeted.

In his reaction, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said: “While #Pakistan has made constructive contributions on the #Afghan Peace Process, Khan’s comments did not.”

The future of Afghanistan was for #Afghans, and only Afghans, to decide, he said, explaining the role of the international community was to encourage Afghans to come together so they could do so.

Pakistan’s former senator Afrasiab Khattak said Khan’s statement was “undoubtedly a gross violation of Afghan sovereignty”.

“Issues of transition process in Afghan reconciliation were deemed to be the subject of intra Afghan dialogue (supposed to be Afghan-led & Afghan-owned),” Khattak wrote on his Twitter account.

He said Afghanistan’s sovereignty and integrity on the basis of a constitutional system approved by a majority of Afghans was an inviolable red line for Afghans.

Former national security advisor Hanif Atmar slammed the prime minister’s statement as “willful interference” in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

PTM leader Mohsin Dawar said in a tweet: “IK’s statement about the formation of an interim government in Afghanistan is a clear violation of diplomatic norms and the sovereignty of that country. Mutual respect for sovereignty of all countries is the only way out for peace and prosperity in the region.”

Another PTM Leader, Ali Wazir, also flayed Khan’s statement. Condemnable statement by th PM regarding Afghanistan.” It was th worst form of a diplomatic approach to dealing with an elected government.”

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