Afghans should remain master of their own destiny: Nawaz Sharif

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday said the people of Afghanistan were and should remain master of their own destiny. “We support an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, leading to national reconciliation,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the UN General Assembly.He said he reassured President Hamid Karzai that Pakistan did not wish to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs; nor did it had any favourites in that country. In fact, he said, Pakistan had an earnest hope that the Afghans themselves would unite for peace, prosperity and development of their great country.He said during President Karzai’s visit to Islamabad last month, “we reaffirmed our shared goal of a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan.”

He said Pakistan encouraged United Nations’ efforts for the stabilization of Afghanistan. Pakistan would work together with Afghanistan for regional and economic cooperation that would establish and reinforce regional trade, energy and communications corridors. 

“A manifestation of our solidarity with the Afghan people has been our willingness to host millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan for many decades.” 

International support for their repatriation as well as reintegration in Afghanistan was indispensable, he said. 

Prime Minister Sharif said that they looked forward to the UN support in addressing other trans-regional challenges, including the flow of narcotics. (APP)