UN Envoy Encouraged by Afghanistan-Pakistan Engagements

Date:

The United Nations’ Special Envoy for Afghanistan Thomas Nicholson is encouraged that Pakistan and Afghanistan are still strengthening relationships. Pakistani premiere’s visit to Kabul and the Chief of Army Staff Gen Bajwa engagement with the top Aghan leadership demonstrates Pakistan’s keen interest in restoring the historical ties.

Nicholson believes that Pakistan is not part of the problem; instead, it is part of a peaceful and settled Afghanistan solution. In the long run, Afghanistan is the solution for Pakistan, owing to the broader connectivity it can provide to Central Asia, he told a local TV.

Nicholson said that Pakistan and Afghanistan share a long history and have a long border. Still, unfortunately, there is “a high level of mistrust” between the leadership of both countries.

“An insecure, violent, unsettled Afghanistan will have spillover effects on Pakistan,” he said.

“I also happen to think that Afghanistan is part of the solution for Pakistan,” said Nicholson, citing connectivity, trade, and energy from Central Asia.

“You remember the old slogan from Nokia — ‘connecting people’. We could actually say, ‘Afghanistan: connecting people, because that’s the way it should be because it is where it is,” the envoy said. He added: “But it just so happens, as long as the civil war continues, this will not happen.”


He said the day the civil war ends, “it will happen, and then you will see all these or some of these connectivity networks, digital connectivity, transit trade. The link between South Asia and Central Asia, and Afghanistan will really play the role it can. It will help the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian economies. The perception of Afghanistan will be very, very different from what it is today,” Nicholson said.

235 COMMENTS

  1. Hey there! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know
    how to make your site mobile friendly? My website looks weird when viewing from
    my iphone. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able
    to resolve this problem. If you have any recommendations, please share.
    With thanks!

  2. I am really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility problems?

    A number of my blog visitors have complained about my website not
    operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera.
    Do you have any ideas to help fix this issue?

  3. Asking questions are truly pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything
    totally, however this piece of writing presents fastidious understanding even.

  4. We absolutely love your blog and find many of your
    post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers
    to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind composing a post or elaborating on most of the
    subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web site!

Comments are closed.

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Afghan Repatriation & Transit Trade Standoff

The repatriation of Afghans faces a major hurdle, not...

SPAR6C: Powering Pakistan & the World for Climate Action, Green Growth

The program selects four countries -- Colombia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zambia -- each at different stages of institutional capacity, climate change mitigation strategy development, and NDC progress tracking.

Reconciliation & Replacement Commission

The current political, economic and security situation is alarming....

Balochistan Minerals: From Dust to Glory  

Balochistan has a variety of sizable and valuable mineral...