Afghanistan Peace CampaignThe Pakistan Awami Workers Party, during the meeting, called for the reopening of trade routes and the resumption of commerce with Afghanistan.
A two-day meeting of opposition parties in Pakistan and several political figures was held in Islamabad from December 20 to 21.
In a 13-point resolution issued at the end of the conference, participants expressed concern over rising tensions between Kabul and Islamabad and called for the improvement of relations with Afghanistan.
The deputy leader of Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party, Liaqat Baloch, also voiced concern over the worsening ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, emphasizing the need for stronger bilateral relations.
He stated: “Relations with Afghanistan are deteriorating. The growing distance between Afghanistan and Pakistan has become dangerously concerning for our future, and this is a matter for the government. If relations between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan are improved, the path to political and economic stability will become clearer.”
The Pakistan Awami Workers Party, during the meeting, called for the reopening of trade routes and the resumption of commerce with Afghanistan.
A member of the party said: “I urge the government and ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to play their part in reopening all closed trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Several former security officials from tribal regions criticized Pakistan’s approach toward Afghanistan and expressed concern over the continuation of current policies.
Mahmood Shah, former security chief of the tribal areas, remarked: “I believe it was a major mistake to engage in a conflict with Afghanistan as part of the western front. Furthermore, the internal situation of the country is also alarming, we are collapsing from within.”
The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, stressed the need to implement the decisions of the “Aman Jirga” (Peace Assembly) regarding ties with Afghanistan. He warned that secretive decisions by the central government on sensitive issues could fuel public dissatisfaction.
Afridi emphasized: “In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Aman Jirga, it was recommended that all stakeholders, from the provincial government to parliament and tribal elders, be consulted, and that decisions be made collectively to achieve positive results. This country cannot move forward with such practices. People are growing more hostile toward institutions, which leads to their weakening and greater public discontent.”
Previously, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had insisted during the “Aman Jirga” that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have a direct impact on the province, and therefore, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be included in dialogue processes with Afghanistan.