US wants to spy on China, Pakistan and Afghanistan through its presence in Kabul, says Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senate body, directs Foreign Office to submit report on US aims, designs in region
US wants to spy on China, Pakistan and Afghanistan through its presence in Kabul, says committee
ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit an analytical report encompassing the possible aims and objectives of the US permanent presence in Afghanistan, urging that Islamabad and Kabul should jointly prevail upon the United Nations to ensure complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
The committee that met in Islamabad with Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel in the Chair observed that Washington has political ambitions in the region and wants permanent presence in Afghanistan to spy on China, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The committee suggested that a joint Pak-Afghan Parliamentary committee should be set up for consultation and oversight of their security and defence issues for post-2014 scenario.
The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Mohammad Jehangir Badar, Farhatullah Babar, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Syeda Sughra Imam and Senator Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri as Members and Senator Afrasiab Khattak as a special invitee. The meeting was also attended by Acting Secretary, Additional Secretary (Afghanistan) and Director General, NASA from the Foreign Office.
The meeting deliberated on the recent visit of the Parliamentary delegation to Kabul in which members shared their experiences regarding current situation of Pak-Afghan relations.
Senator Haji Adeel told the participants said that the delegation achieved remarkable breakthrough in terms of people to people contacts and had heart-to-heart communication with Afghan people during its visit to Kabul.
The Afghan President and other senior leaders extended a very warm welcome to the Pakistan delegation. He further said that “Afghans understand Pakistan people’s mindset very clearly.” He provided copies to the participants of Joint Declaration of Pak-Afghan Defence Committee’s Dialogue that was held on Sept 10-11 in Kabul.
He stated that Pakistan freed 27 Afghans, who he said, have now reportedly rejoined fight on different locations/war fronts in Afghanistan.
Senator Mushahid stressed the need for having perception of US aims and designs with the presence of over 20,000 foreign troops at nine bases in Afghanistan after evacuation. He stated that it was a very unique delegation comprising different political parties of opposition & government and that it was first dialogue on defence, security and military issues. He said that we have institutionalized the dialogue. He further observed that the said visit dispelled the compression-that-India is prevailing in Afghanistan. He said that both Taliban and the U.S. are waiting for elections in Afghanistan. He informed that a Pakistan-Afghanistan People’s Association was formed doing the visit with Senator Afrasiab Khattak as the Chairman and Senator Dr. Jehangir Badar as Secretary-General.
First festival of this Association will be held in Kabul on 26th, 27th and 28th Oct, 2013.
Senator Afrasiab Khattak stated that the delegation had very cordial and meaningful talks at Kabul and there was no blame game. He said that Afghans have a lot of expectations from Nawaz government for restoration of peace in Afghanistan. Senator Dr. Jehangir Badar stated that visit to Kabul was very timely.
He opined that stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan is inter-twined. Senator Farhatullah Babar stated that the said visit was a path-breaking. He proposed that on 23rd Sept. 2013, on occasion of visit by Afghan delegation to Pakistan, a Pak-Afghan Joint Parliamentary Committee should be formed to establish a hotline between the two neighbours to tackle post 2014 and immediate post-2014 problems.
He also emphasized Border Management issues which often harm people to people contacts. Thirdly, he said that people’s Festival on 26th Oct. should be institutionalized and comprise of intellectuals, writers, poets and journalists which will have a multiplayer effect.
“We should evolve an institutional mechanism for regular exchange of intellectuals between the two countries,” he stressed. He said it was very reassuring to know that Pakistan has no danger from India in Afghanistan. He said in post-2014 scenario, Pakistan will have a dominant and strategic role. He suggested that a joint Pak-Afghan Parliamentary Commission should improve oversight of their respective security establishments for post-2014 scenario. Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Senator Sughra Imam also expressed their point of on view on the Pak-Afghanistan relations and the US influence in the region.
Foreign Office Special Secretary and Pakistan’s future envoy to Iran, Noor Muhammad Javedani on the occasion said that a harmonious atmosphere between Pakistan and Afghanistan is developing, adding that Islamabad is receiving positive signals from Kabul.
Senate body, directs Foreign Office to submit report on US aims, designs in region
US wants to spy on China, Pakistan and Afghanistan through its presence in Kabul, says committee
ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit an analytical report encompassing the possible aims and objectives of the US permanent presence in Afghanistan, urging that Islamabad and Kabul should jointly prevail upon the United Nations to ensure complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
The committee that met in Islamabad with Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel in the Chair observed that Washington has political ambitions in the region and wants permanent presence in Afghanistan to spy on China, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The committee suggested that a joint Pak-Afghan Parliamentary committee should be set up for consultation and oversight of their security and defence issues for post-2014 scenario.
The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Mohammad Jehangir Badar, Farhatullah Babar, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Syeda Sughra Imam and Senator Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri as Members and Senator Afrasiab Khattak as a special invitee. The meeting was also attended by Acting Secretary, Additional Secretary (Afghanistan) and Director General, NASA from the Foreign Office.
The meeting deliberated on the recent visit of the Parliamentary delegation to Kabul in which members shared their experiences regarding current situation of Pak-Afghan relations.
Senator Haji Adeel told the participants said that the delegation achieved remarkable breakthrough in terms of people to people contacts and had heart-to-heart communication with Afghan people during its visit to Kabul.
The Afghan President and other senior leaders extended a very warm welcome to the Pakistan delegation. He further said that “Afghans understand Pakistan people’s mindset very clearly.” He provided copies to the participants of Joint Declaration of Pak-Afghan Defence Committee’s Dialogue that was held on Sept 10-11 in Kabul.
He stated that Pakistan freed 27 Afghans, who he said, have now reportedly rejoined fight on different locations/war fronts in Afghanistan.
Senator Mushahid stressed the need for having perception of US aims and designs with the presence of over 20,000 foreign troops at nine bases in Afghanistan after evacuation. He stated that it was a very unique delegation comprising different political parties of opposition & government and that it was first dialogue on defence, security and military issues. He said that we have institutionalized the dialogue. He further observed that the said visit dispelled the compression-that-India is prevailing in Afghanistan. He said that both Taliban and the U.S. are waiting for elections in Afghanistan. He informed that a Pakistan-Afghanistan People’s Association was formed doing the visit with Senator Afrasiab Khattak as the Chairman and Senator Dr. Jehangir Badar as Secretary-General.
First festival of this Association will be held in Kabul on 26th, 27th and 28th Oct, 2013.
Senator Afrasiab Khattak stated that the delegation had very cordial and meaningful talks at Kabul and there was no blame game. He said that Afghans have a lot of expectations from Nawaz government for restoration of peace in Afghanistan. Senator Dr. Jehangir Badar stated that visit to Kabul was very timely.
He opined that stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan is inter-twined. Senator Farhatullah Babar stated that the said visit was a path-breaking. He proposed that on 23rd Sept. 2013, on occasion of visit by Afghan delegation to Pakistan, a Pak-Afghan Joint Parliamentary Committee should be formed to establish a hotline between the two neighbours to tackle post 2014 and immediate post-2014 problems.
He also emphasized Border Management issues which often harm people to people contacts. Thirdly, he said that people’s Festival on 26th Oct. should be institutionalized and comprise of intellectuals, writers, poets and journalists which will have a multiplayer effect.
“We should evolve an institutional mechanism for regular exchange of intellectuals between the two countries,” he stressed. He said it was very reassuring to know that Pakistan has no danger from India in Afghanistan. He said in post-2014 scenario, Pakistan will have a dominant and strategic role. He suggested that a joint Pak-Afghan Parliamentary Commission should improve oversight of their respective security establishments for post-2014 scenario. Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Senator Sughra Imam also expressed their point of on view on the Pak-Afghanistan relations and the US influence in the region.
Foreign Office Special Secretary and Pakistan’s future envoy to Iran, Noor Muhammad Javedani on the occasion said that a harmonious atmosphere between Pakistan and Afghanistan is developing, adding that Islamabad is receiving positive signals from Kabul.
