The Afghan government summoned a Pakistani diplomat to explain Prime Minister Imran Khan’s latest remarks on ongoing Afghan peace talks, as tensions flared between the neighbouring countries once again.
Afghanistan’s ministry of foreign affairs summoned the diplomat to object about remarks that it deemed ‘explicit interference’ in Afghan affairs, the ministry’s spokesman, Sibghatullah Ahmadi, said on Twitter. It marks the fourth time in about a month and a half that Kabul has demanded an explanation from Islamabad for comments related to peace talks aimed at ending 17 years of war in Afghanistan.
In late March, Afghanistan recalled its ambassador from Islamabad for Imran Khan’s suggestion that forming an interim Afghan government might smooth peace talks between US and Taliban officials. The ambassador returned shortly after Pakistan clarified Khan’s remarks as being reported out of context. But on Friday, Imran Khan addressed the matter again at a rally in Pakistan in which he explained his original comments as ‘brotherly advice’, according to accounts published in Afghan media. “Afghanistan considers recent statements of Imran Khan explicit interference in internal affairs of Afghanistan and deems PM’s remarks a return to his previous stance,” Ahmadi tweeted.
