Pakistan may only give guidance and not enforce its will on the Taliban: Fawad Chaudhry

Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said on Friday that Pakistan could not force its will on the Afghan Taliban, but could only guide them on how to build an acceptable administration. “Pakistan wishes Afghanistan to be stable and peaceful. Previously in his speech in Bajaur, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked former President Ashraf Ghani to establish a government based on cooperation rather than holding elections. In a discussion with the cabinet ministers of the Badin Press Club, he added, “And now we have the same instruction for the Taliban.”

Due to Pakistan’s help, the Taliban sat at the discussion table with the US, according to Flanked, but former President Ashraf Ghani did not display any willingness in engaging with the Taliban. Security and prosperity in the neighboring state were essential for maximum mean value from Peshawar to Mazar-e-Sharif and Tashkent via trains, and for reaching Central Asian States via trucks via Afghanistan, he said, pointing out desire of Pakistan to link the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with the European Union (EU). Such efforts, which would increase local economic growth even more, could only be undertaken if Afghanistan was secure, he emphasized.

He warned out any chance of compromise on journalism rights or fake news in the planned Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA). Outside from that, he indicated, the administration would welcome any revisions to the PMDA version.

According to the Fawad Chaudhry, the Sindh government experienced a great contribution from the Federation in the shape of Badin and Ghotki’s gas revenues and the Centre had already provided the province Rs1,900 billion.