BRUSSELS – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, has accused Pakistan of having terror sanctuaries on its side of the Pak-Afghan border, calling for their closure to achieve peace in war-torn Afghanistan.
According to an official statement issued by the foreign ministers after the meeting on Friday, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, attending for the first time, Pakistan’s role was crucial to durable peace in Afghanistan.
“We believe Pakistan’s role will be important to a peace process, including in encouraging the Taliban to change their calculus. We encourage Pakistan to act on its stated support for a political solution to the Afghan conflict, to close terrorist sanctuaries and to work to prevent terrorist financial flows and cross-border attacks, including by working with its neighbours.” said the statement.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said that the alliance welcomed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s “unprecedented” offer of peace talks with the Taliban, which involved allowing them to open an office in Kabul.
“NATO has helped to create the environment for this to happen with our practical and political support. And we have renewed our commitment, including with significant troop increases and financial support,” Stoltenberg said.
He urged the Taliban to respond positively to this opportunity and participate in an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process.
The responsibility to bring an end to a long era of conflict is now in the Taliban’s hands, he said.
Pakistan’s isolation feared
Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, the permanent representative of the United States to NATO also highlighted the role Pakistan could play in Afghanistan due to familial ties.
“It’s time Pakistan became a real contributor to the stabilization of Afghanistan. We think it could do more. But they have the ability to stop the terrorist networks from trafficking between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” she said.
The official continued that Pakistan had the ability to have a say with the Haqqani network and the Taliban adding that to see this destructive behaviour was not positive either for Afghanistan or Pakistan.
“Pakistan needs to realize they are in danger of being isolated by the international community, [which] wants the stabilization of Afghanistan, and they expect Pakistan to be a leader in that effort.” she warned
