ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday acknowledged that Pakistan played an important role in facilitating the Afghan peace process.

Addressing a conference at Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, he said Pakistan and Afghanistan had paid a heavy price by facing various terror groups that were still acting as spoilers. He said, “We need to cooperate against such elements.”

Abdullah Abdullah said his country would not allow any terror entity to pose a threat to any other nation.

Also Read: Court sends Shehbaz Sharif on 14-day physical remand

The chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan said the start of negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban was an important opportunity and offered the best hope to put the war behind us. He said the Afghan government had asked its negotiating team to be patient and be ready to make compromises.

Abdullah Abdullah said Pakistan and Afghanistan were facing a serious of common threats and challenges including various shades of terrorism, extremism, intolerance and more recently Covid-19. 

“There is a huge untapped security, political, economic potential for cooperation between the two countries,” he said.  He stressed for enhanced interaction for a more peaceful and prosperous coexistence.

Abdullah Abdullah also thanked Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan refugees saying we share the idea of their dignified return.