World has to help devastated Afghanistan, stresses Imran

Pakistan and US need to prevent terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and should cooperate in addressing the humanitarian crisis in that country and supporting its economic recovery, says Pak premier

- Tariq Butt

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the international community cannot exonerate itself from its responsibilities towards the Afghan people after 20 years of military intervention in the war-torn country and urged the same countries to stay engaged with Kabul.

In an interview with Newsweek magazine, he said decades of war has had a devastating impact on Afghanistan’s economy, society, and polity and there is a “ray of hope” to bring peace and stability to the country and the broader region.

The premier, however, warned that if rivalry persists with Afghanistan and between global and regional powers, it could lead to more suffering and conflict in Afghanistan.

“This would create new flow of refugees, escalate the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan, and destabilize the entire region. The last thing Pakistan wants is more conflict and turbulence in Afghanistan,” Khan reiterated.

He said that it is Islamabad’s hope that the country would be “stabilized, through humanitarian help, economic support, and connectivity and infrastructure projects, and that the US, China, and Russia will all contribute to pacifying and reconstructing Afghanistan.”