Scapegoat must be avoided; stakeholders should play a role for peace in Afghanistan: COAS

The military’s media department said on Wednesday that the army chief of staff, General Kamal Javed Bajwa, emphasized avoiding misunderstandings and scapegoats in order to counter the design of spoilers in the Afghan peace process. The Army Chief of Staff’s comments were made during the two-day 242nd Legion Commander’s Meeting. General Bajeva presided over the meeting held at the Rawalpindi Headquarters (GHQ). COAS-which reinforces Pakistan’s vision of peace, connectivity and shared prosperity-stated that the country has made every effort to promote the peace process in Afghanistan, resolve issues through negotiations with the utmost sincerity, and will continue to do so. The Chief of Staff of the Army said: “As a collective responsibility, all stakeholders must play an active role for the lasting peace in Afghanistan, which is vital to the stability of the region.” As part of the comprehensive border management system, COAS Satisfied with the strict measures taken to ensure effective border control, high-level vigils along the western border are required. The Chief of Staff of the Army praised the formation for maintaining high standards of combat readiness and providing continuous support for civil administration during the country’s ongoing fight against COVID-19, monsoon rains, and the national polio campaign. In addition, during the meeting, participants conducted a comprehensive review of the global, regional and domestic security environment, and military media departments. The forum also detailed the changing situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, its impact on Pakistan’s internal security-especially in the western region-and the measures taken to respond to emerging challenges. ISPR added: “From a holistic view of the various security challenges that Pakistan faces in various fields in the changing environment, the forum emphasizes the need for a national approach.” · It happened after Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmedzai was removed from office. According to sources, Ahmed Zai has been replaced by General Hebatullah Ali Zai as the new Chief of Staff of the Afghan Army. In the earlier development, in addition to the six cities occupied by the Taliban earlier in a few days, two other cities were occupied by the insurgents, one of which was only 200 kilometers away from Kabul. The six other provincial capitals that have collapsed since Friday are in the north of the country, and the insurgents have set their sights on Mazar-i-Sharif, the largest city in the region. On August 6, Afghan ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Ghulam Isakzai, stated that Pakistan should help Afghanistan “dissolve” the Taliban in order to promote peace and prosperity in this war-torn country. The Afghan ambassador’s comments were made at a public meeting of the UN Security Council on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. “We ask Pakistan to dismantle the Taliban’s infrastructure and pipelines,” Isakzai said, noting that Taliban attacks are intensifying every day.