In an interview to Washington Post, Pakistani National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf sheds light on the takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan and foreign powers dragging Pakistan into the matter.
The interview came at a time when people in Washington are pointing fingers at Pakistan, a major non-NATO ally that hasn’t been seen as a friend for a long time.
Clarifying the mindset, Moeed said that United States (US) and Pakistan have a clear interest in moving on from their past problems and working together.
“Washington experts are once again accusing Pakistan of complicity with the jihadists and calling for punishments, such as cutting off assistance or imposing sanctions on the government”, reads the article.
However, the situation is different as the civilian leadership in Islamabad isn’t celebrating the Taliban victory instead they are preparing to manage the coming fallout.
During the phone interview, Moeed Yusuf said, “Afghan instability could lead to more terrorism, refugees and economic hardship for Pakistan”.
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Considering the current situation, the adviser questioned how it helps to push away a country of this size, stature, and power.
On the other hand, Pakistani officials recalled that tens of thousands of Pakistani soldiers have died fighting extremists in their own country since 9/11 while teaming up with the US.
He said, “But let’s let all that pass. We need to work out how to move forward as partners because neither side can do without the other in terms of stability in the region”.
The adviser was of the view that the US-supported government in Kabul used Pakistan as a scapegoat to excuse its ineptitude, corruption, and unpopularity.
Moeed Yusuf said that despite Pakistan extended its help in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table at Washington’s request, now it is blamed for the outcome.
“The entire state collapsed in a week, so somebody was lying, somebody was misreporting, or somebody was mistaken about the reality”, Moeed questioned the Afghan National Army and Ashraf Ghani’s escape.
Given Biden’s haphazard withdrawal from Afghanistan, Moeed concluded that Pakistan is calling for the Taliban to work with other ethnic groups toward a political settlement to establish an inclusive government in Kabul.