Army Chief Gen Bajwa departs for Kabul to meet Afghan president

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday left for Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

According to Pakistan Army’s media wing, the COAS will hold a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other dignitaries including military officials.

However, no further details were shared with regard to agenda of the meeting.

Both countries have been trading accusations of fomenting political unrest through militancy and terrorism against each other.

In the 72^nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September this year, the Afghan President – Ashraf Ghani – had made an appeal to Pakistan to work together against terrorism.

Applauding US President Donald Trump’s new policy for Afghanistan and South Asia, Ghani said this would send a positive message to Taliban insurgents while addressing the UNGA.

On the other hand, Pakistan had refused to be a “scapegoat” for Afghanistan’s bloodshed or to fight wars for others, PM Abbasi told the United Nations in his speech.

 

“Having suffered and sacrificed so much due to our role in the global counter terrorism campaign, it is especially galling for Pakistan to be blamed for the military or political stalemate in Afghanistan,” Abbasi said.

“We are not prepared to be anyone’s scapegoat,” he remarked.