A webinar was held by Pak-Afghan Youth Forum on ‘Pak-Afghan Relations: Future Goals Setting’. The panelists and participants included prominent personalities from academia, media and policymakers from both sides of the border.
The webinar was organized as part of PAYF’s initiatives to enhance people-to-people connection between the two countries. The brainstorming session was also arranged in an effort to start cross-border dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan in an attempt to discuss how the youth of the two countries could successfully navigate through these historic times.
The brainstorming session was an interactive and informal discussion between the panelists from both sides. The keynote speaker for the event was Wajiha Qamar, the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Professional Training. The Afghan panelists included Naimatullah Karyab (Parliamentarian), Ghulam Farooq Safi (Chairman BEST), Anees ur Rehman (Journalist, RTA Afghanistan), Samiullah Jabarkhail (Deputy Director, OSCAR), Mr. Wahadatullah Khaplwak (Executive Director C4A). While the Pakistani panel included Shabana Fayyaz (QAU), Amina Khan (ISSI), Sajid Iqbal Khattak (NUML) and Nizam Salarzai (Youth leader from erstwhile FATA).
Wajiha Qamar shared her views how the Pakistan-Afghan relationship had been plagued by misunderstandings and mistrust, however civil society organizations like PAYF is a great step in the right direction to change this. She also struck a sentimental note with the participants by mentioning how like our family, our geographical neighbors cannot be changed, which is why we should try to make our neighbors our strength.
Eminent speakers from Afghanistan were of the view that the age-old tribal bonds that were in place in both Pakistan and Afghanistan must be utilized prudently. Likewise, geographical linkages can be extended further to Central Asian Republics and Europe and enhance trade activities.
