Pakistan: We Respect Afghanistan’s Sovereignty, Seek No Regime Change

Future Afghanistsan

Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to a question regarding regime change in Afghanistan by stating that using such a term is unacceptable to Islamabad.

In a press conference, he emphasized that Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that the type of governance in Afghanistan is the right of its people. He added that Pakistan is ready to cooperate with the current Afghan government.

Tahir Andrabi stated: “We respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. It is for the Afghan people to pick and choose whichever government they want, and we are ready to work with the present dispensation, the current Kabul regime. It is not correct for us to use the word of a regime change for a neighboring country.”

He described recent statements by the Taliban foreign minister and religious scholars’ fatwas as positive developments. However, he stressed that Islamabad expects these positive steps to be accompanied by a firm and clear commitment that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan.

Regarding Pakistani students in Afghanistan, Andrabi said that so far, 15 students and 291 others who had been in contact with Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul have returned safely.

He added: “Our Missions are also in contact with the Afghan authorities regarding their safety and wellbeing, and are coordinating with our relevant authorities to ensure their safe return. As of now, 15 students and 291 individuals, who were in contact with our Embassy, have safely returned to Pakistan.”

Inside Pakistan, political parties have consistently criticized the government’s handling of talks with Kabul. Most recently, a spokesperson for the Awami National Party said that Islamabad sends Punjabis to negotiate with Kabul, people who, in his view, have no understanding of Afghan mindsets, which has led to the failure of these discussions.

This comes as the Taliban has repeatedly emphasized that Afghan soil will not be used against any country, including Pakistan.