Afghan war: Pakistan ”not prepared to be anyone’s scapegoat”

Pakistan said state-sponsored terrorism with foreign elements across its border with Afghanistan is disrupting the peaceful and democratic environment of the country. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi emphasised that “no one desires peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan,” urging the world to understand that it “will not allow the Afghan war to be fought on […]

Pakistan said state-sponsored terrorism with foreign elements across its border with Afghanistan is disrupting the peaceful and democratic environment of the country.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi emphasised that “no one desires peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan,” urging the world to understand that it “will not allow the Afghan war to be fought on its soil”. Pakistan is not prepared to be anyone’s scapegoat in Afghan war, he stressed.

Pakistan does not “endorse any failed strategy that will prolong and intensify the suffering of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan and other regional countries”, he said. It has been clear now – evidenced by 16 years of conflict – that “peace cannot be restored by resorting to force”, Abbasi said. There have been cross-border attacks, the prime minister admitted but not initiated by Pakistan. Those were “from foreign elements”.

He called on the international community to prioritise eliminating extremists across the globe including ISIS and Al-Qaeda.