By Fakhar Alam
PESHAWAR, Sep 10 (APP):Following an announcement of the 33-member Afghan Caretaker Cabinet led by veteran Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund as new Prime Minister, the important phase of formation of a new Government has been completed in Afghanistan where people were now desperately looking forward for resolution of their longstanding problems, security and economic stability to lead a prosperous and dignified life.
“The problems of war ravaged Afghanistan are numerous. The new Afghan government is facing key challenges including security, economy, taxation, governance, building of institutions and justice system besides gaining the confidence of international community and world monetary institutions such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank and IMF,” said Brigadier (Rtd) Mehmood Shah, former Security Law and Order erstwhile Fata (now Merged Areas) while talking to APP.
He said relations of Taliban would be crucial especially with neighboring countries including Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran and Central Asian Republics (CARs) for consolidation of their government, attracting foreign investment, socioeconomic empowerment of the masses, raising of national institutions including army, paramilitary forces, police and legitimization of their regime by the international community.
Mehmood Shah said the new Afghan government has to remove all apprehensions of the neighboring countries including Pakistan and said that Afghans soil should not be used for launching or planning subversive activities against other states.
He said outlawed Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was still operating in Afghanistan and the Taliban government was required to take decisive action against it.
“We want peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan had accommodated about four million afghan refugees for the last four decades by sharing our houses, transport, hospitals, schools and did not desire destabilization or civil war in the war torn country as it might cause another exodus of refugees into Pakistan,” he remarked.
Brigadier Mehmood said the security situation was improving with each passing day in Afghanistan where Taliban had strengthened grip on power following the fall of the most strategic Panjshir valley where the Taliban flag was hoisted high on the Governor’s Office.
“Afghanistan is a multi ethnic country where Uzbek, Tajik, Persian and other minority communities had occupied key posts in civil bureaucracy during the Ashraf Ghani regime and Taliban have to keep a vigil on them to avert any harm to their government.
The Taliban Government should place their own committed people on key posts by replacing them for smooth running of the system,he suggested
Mehmood Shah hoped that being a seasoned leader with rich past experience of running key positions during previous Taliban Government (1996-01), the new Afghan Prime Minister Mulla Muhammad Hassan Akhund backed by senior leaders including Vice Prime Ministers Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar and Mulla Abdul Salam Hanifi besides Federal Minister for Defence Mulla Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Finance Minister Mullah Hidayatullah Badri and Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Mutaqi would be able to overcome all these challenges.
“The new Afghan Govt needs space to fulfill the expectations of local, regional and international players,” he said, adding world powers including India would try to destabilize the Taliban Government after their millions dollars investment were drowned in River Kabul following the overthrowing of non-popular government of Ashraf Ghani.
He said India’s clowns running the media were making malicious propaganda against Pakistan after the crushing defeat of RAW in Afghanistan. “The people of Afghanistan had broken the RAW-NDS nexus on August 15 last and have achieved freedom from foreign occupation,” he said.
Mehmood Shah said the fall of Kabul had clearly demonstrated that money and force could not conquer the will to fight for a cause and that was why Afghan National Army and National Directorate of Security (NDS) of Afghanistan had proved like a ‘sand of wall’ as they lacked motivation, fighting skills and believed in own abilities.”
He said this was a clear lesson for India to learn and reverse its negative policy on Kashmir and grant the right of self- determination to oppressed Kashmiris of IIOJK as promised to them by the UN Security Council.
The situation in Afghanistan would have been different today had the US focused on development of infrastructure, health, education, mineral, agriculture and socioeconomic uplift of the Afghans rather than concentrating on military solution of the four-decades long conflict there.
He said stable Afghanistan was vital for peace and development of neighbouring countries including Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia, Central Asian Republics (CARs), GULF states and expressed the hope that all regional countries would come forward and take a lead role by making swift investment for socioeconomic uplift of poor Afghans.
“If Afghanistan is left abandoned by international communities now like they did in the past, it may create a serious humanitarian crisis in the war torn country,” he said adding Afghans want quality education, health, infrastructure, clean drinking water, jobs and international assistance for complete rebuilding of the war-ravaged country.
He said Indian media was misleading its people and international community by making false claims about the presence of Afghan refugees camps in Torkham. .
Brigadier Mehmood said no major refugee influx had been witnessed from Afghanistan following the fall of Kabul rather Afghan refugees living in Pakistan were going back to their country in a substantial number these days. “The international media had recently visited Torkham border where they witnessed no refugees’ camp at Torkham and highly lauded the security arrangements made by Pakistan for security of the long border.
He said the 2,611km long Pak-Afghan border had been fully secured after completion of 98pc fencing, construction of 388 new forts and placement of a comprehensive technical surveillance system equipped with drones and others latest technologies, which immensely helped control mobility and contain unwanted elements.
Fencing on an 802km area out of 827 kilometers and 388 new forts out of 443 in KP on Pak-Afghan border has been completed and the remaining 55 forts would be completed by December this year.
Besides establishment of patrolling tracks covering 743 kilometers alongside the border, security related watch
towers, pickets, bunkers, tracks, drone, redars, night vision sights technology, increase of deployment of additional troops and other surveillance technologies had been placed under an inclusive border management mechanism by Pakistan to secure the western border. Similarly, 48pc fencing on Pak-Iran border has been completed, security officials told APP.
Federal and KP Governments with assistance of Pakistan Army and FC have launched mega development projects worth billions of rupees in merged areas including over Rs3 billion uplift projects in Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur.
Facilities at Torkham border terminal, a historical gateway between Pakistan and Afghanistan, had been enhanced where all concerned departments including Federal Investigation Agency, National Database and Registration Authority, Civil Administration, police, ANF and others were extending spot services to immigrants and people.
Torkham border terminal is fully operational round the clock where regulated movement of people and cargo trucks having travelling visa documents was underway smoothly.
An Integrated Transit Trade System (ITTMS) is being established on 726 kanal at Torkham that would be completed by 2023.
Following its completion, over 10,000 cargo trucks and 25,000 pedestrians would cross this historic border per day against around 16,000 to 20,000 people and 700 to 900 cargo trucks crossing daily today. Torkham border has been equipped with all necessary healthcare facilities including screening of COVID-19 and other diseases to facilitate passengers.
