Cautiously optimistic about improved relations with Pakistan, says Ghani
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said he is “cautiously optimistic” about improvement in his nation’s relations with Pakistan but said that sanctuaries to Taliban and other insurgents must end for peace to prevail.
“On Pakistan, I am cautiously optimistic that we began a process of fundamental transformation,” Ghani said in response to a question during a talk at the Council on Foreign Relations here yesterday.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan have “defined” the problem that has plagued their relations for years.
“The problem is that Pakistan has been in an undeclared state of hostility with Afghanistan for 13 years. Fortunately, they have accepted this definition and we are working to end the state of hostilities,” he said.
Ghani added that peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the “primary peace” and peace with the Taliban will then be at a national scale.
He also pointed out that sanctuaries in Pakistan for Taliban and other militant groups should be ended.
“Without sanctuary, a long-term rebellion is impossible. When sanctuaries end, peace breaks out. That is what happened in Central America and Latin America, that’s what has happened in Africa,” he said. Ghani attributed the transformation in relations with Pakistan to the “changing nature of the threats”.
“On Pakistan, I am cautiously optimistic that we began a process of fundamental transformation,” Ghani said in response to a question during a talk at the Council on Foreign Relations here yesterday.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan have “defined” the problem that has plagued their relations for years.
“The problem is that Pakistan has been in an undeclared state of hostility with Afghanistan for 13 years. Fortunately, they have accepted this definition and we are working to end the state of hostilities,” he said.
Ghani added that peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the “primary peace” and peace with the Taliban will then be at a national scale.
He also pointed out that sanctuaries in Pakistan for Taliban and other militant groups should be ended.
“Without sanctuary, a long-term rebellion is impossible. When sanctuaries end, peace breaks out. That is what happened in Central America and Latin America, that’s what has happened in Africa,” he said. Ghani attributed the transformation in relations with Pakistan to the “changing nature of the threats”.