NEW YORK: Pakistan Tuesday regretted the United States failed to recognise the support it lent during the latter’s efforts to secure a peace deal with the Taliban and its subsequent withdrawal from Afghanistan, wondering if Islamabad’s aid of Washington would ever be “enough”.
“No matter what we do. It’s never enough,” said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a press engagement arranged by the Foreign Press Association, a New York-based not-for-profit organisation.
The briefing was moderated by FPA president, Ian Williams.
Asked by a reporter if Washington was still pressing Pakistan to “do more”, he responded: “Unfortunately, we have not been recognised for having done what we have done [in Afghanistan to facilitate the US and instead] fingers have been pointed at us.”
When, in 2018, the Trump administration wishes to enter negotiations with the Taliban, it asked Pakistan and [we] helped and brought the group to the negotiating table, he noted.
“When they wanted safe passage for [their] people to leave Afghanistan safely — we helped [ensure this],” he said.
Pakistan was also willing to assist in the proposed distribution of humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan. “We are willing [to do so], we will be offering to help […] Pakistan can be that hub for the distribution of assistance.”
“Tell us, what more can we do, that we have not [already] done,” an exasperated Qureshi questioned.
“For far too long — and believe you me, it is not helpful for someone who is trying to build a healthy bilateral relationship,” he said, underscoring Pakistan’s importance for the US.
“How many friends do they have in that [South Asian] region — just look around and see — and it’s Pakistan that has been supportive and helpful [to the US],” the foreign minister said.
“If you keep pushing us into the corner, then a [time] will come when the people of Pakistan [will] feel that no matter what we do, it’s impossible to please them, as they keep changing the goalposts. And let that sink in. It wouldn’t be helpful for the relationship.”
Replying to a question about the Taliban’s nomination of their spokesperson Suhail Shaheen as Kabul’s ambassador to the UN, Qureshi said the issue will be decided by the UN Credentials Committee, as the interim Taliban government is yet to secure international recognition.
He also pointed out that Afghanistan’s incumbent UN representative to the world body, Ghulam Isaczai, appointed by the Ghani regime and accredited by the UN, is not recognised by the Taliban government.
“So it’s a fairly complicated situation,” he said. “It’s an evolving situation, and a decision will have to be taken by the appropriate committee — the Credentials Committee”.
During the briefing, he also urged the international community to engage with the Taliban to encourage progress towards a more inclusive government in Kabul.
While the Taliban should be held to their commitments on counter-terror, human rights, and political inclusivity, the immediate priority must be to help the people of Afghanistan as they confront a potential humanitarian crisis, Qureshi said.
‘NO THREAT’ TO NZ, ENGLAND TEAMS:
Meanwhile, interacting with the member of the US-based Pakistan community in New York, Qureshi dismissed the impression cricket teams of New Zealand and England backed out of respective tours out of the fear of security threats.
He recalled the New Zealand cricket board was even offered helicopter commute but it refused to budge from its demand of cancelling the series.
“It is possible that a neighbouring country has created this drama to harm Pakistan,” said Qureshi in a thinly-veiled reference to India.
Pakistan has registered a protest with the New Zealand government over the cancellation of the tour.
Pakistan’s high commissioner, Murad Ashraf Janjua, called on officials in Wellington and handed a protest letter over to them.
Reports citing sources claim that in the letter, Pakistan has demanded New Zealand to provide reasons and details for pulling the plug on the visit.
The diplomat informed Wellington that the cancellation was a “very grave matter” and is being treated as such.
