On November 12, 2021 the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a Public Talk by H.E. Amir Khan Muttaqi, Interim Foreign Minister of Afghanistan under ISSI’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Members of the diplomatic corps in Islamabad, academics, civil society, former and current diplomats were also present.
Ms. Amina Khan, Director Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa (CAMEA) moderated the event.
During his welcome remarks, Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said that in the aftermath of the US pull-out, the manner in which the Ashraf Ghani government left, shows that they never had the support of Afghan people. Now the situation in Afghanistan is a ground reality and that there is a consensus that the people of Afghanistan want peace. If there is chaos in Afghanistan, it will lead towards terrorism and back to a chaotic situation he said. He further showed concern towards the ordinary Afghans who had suffered the most from the war in the country. Moreover, he also added that after the swift pull out of the US, the folding of Ashraf Ghani’s government, and the melting of the national army shows the Taliban as a reality in Afghanistan. The ambassador further stresses upon the Taliban to engage with local Afghans in order to bring peace and stability to the country and the region at large. Similarly, the ambassador showed his keen interest in engaging with the Taliban and said that the neighbors of Afghanistan and countries like Russia, China, and the US should take all possible steps to bring peace to the country.
