Interview with new Afghan ambassador

Rehmatullah Musa Ghazi has a delicate balancing act to perform as Afghanistan’s first postwar ambassador to neighbouring Pakistan. Although the two countries have much in common - religion, culture and languages, relations have been strained for many years due to Pakistan's links with the ousted Taliban movement. In an interview with IRIN, Ghazi, who was also ambassador to Pakistan in the mid 1990s during the government of President Burhanuddin Rabbani, said Afghanistan's development and prosperity was very closely tied in with Pakistan. QUESTION: How do you see the relationship with Pakistan developing, given the fact that Islamabad supported the hardline Taliban regime? ANSWER: As you know, after 11 September Pakistan’s foreign policy stance, particularly on Afghanistan, has been very positive. Pakistan and Afghanistan are partners in the global war against terrorism and extremism. They have always supported our embassy here in Islamabad, and I have also contributed in resolving their problems in Kabul. Q: Apart from the relationship with the government, what you are doing to promote friendship between the peoples of both countries? A: The geography and geopolitical situation of the countries have drawn the two people together. In addition to sharing a long common border, we also share a common history, languages and a common culture. The government and people of Pakistan supported us in our national resistance against the Soviet occupation. We are also grateful to them for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than two decades. I believe all these factors of cohesion contribute to a lasting friendship between the two peoples. Q: What role do you see for Pakistan in Afghan reconstruction? A: The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has repeatedly stated that Afghanistan’s neighbours, Pakistan in particular, have an active and important role in the country’s reconstruction. We want to utilise Pakistani professionals, companies and raw material in the reconstruction process. It’s practical because Pakistan is the most proximate country and it has a relatively well-developed infrastructure. We want to develop closer ties with it through enhanced trade, economic and business ties. Q: Is it safe for Pakistani companies to work in Afghanistan given the uncertain security situation of your country? A: Afghanistan had been at war for 23 years, and absolute security cannot be established very quickly. In my opinion, the transitional government of Afghanistan has done much to attract foreign investment. Our government has a policy of developing a free-market economy. Investment in Afghanistan can be made either directly without consulting the government or by forming partnerships with Afghans. I think this will address any security concerns. Our embassy and all government ministries are open to facilitate any investment inside Afghanistan. At the moment, many private Pakistani companies are working in Afghanistan. Q: There were reports of police harassment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. How do you describe the situation now? A: The incidents have decreased significantly recently, but the police harassment reached its peak in May when hundreds of them were rounded up in a crackdown following the murder of two policemen [in Rawalpindi]. I then contacted the interior ministry, foreign ministry and I even drew the attention of Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf to the matter. The problem was amicably resolved. Now there are less reports of police harassment. Q: How have you tackled the problem of harassment of Afghan refugees trying to cross into Pakistan? We hear that some refugees are returning to assess the situation before they return permanently, but are being stopped from crossing into Pakistan? A: In fact, we have always said that the repatriation should always be voluntary under the Geneva Convention, with honour and dignity. I have reservations and concerns about the repatriation process. The fast pace of the repatriation is worrying, because the Afghan government has little resources to reintegrate the returnees. I believe that the refugees should take an informed decision, and they should be assisted in every possible way to do so. Pakistan has facilitated the process, but I would also like to call upon the Afghans to be cautious before taking any decision. Q: Refugees stuck at the Chaman waiting area in southern Pakistan are now being moved to the desert site of Zarey Dasht in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar. How does the Afghan government feel about this? A: I have directed my consul in the Pakistani city of Quetta to prepare a detailed report on the matter. I believe that the Pakistani authorities are cooperating and they are assisting the stranded refugees in Chaman. The conditions there are bad in reality. Q: There are reports that thousands of Afghans languish in Pakistani prisons. What are you doing to help them? A: I have requested Pakistan’s foreign office to help us in collecting data on Afghan prisoners in the country’s jails. We want to determine the nature of the charges against them. We only want to secure the release of innocent Afghan prisoners or those languishing for committing petty crimes. However, we do not want to release criminals or members of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Q: Thousands of Pakistani Taliban supporters were imprisoned in Afghanistan following the fall of Taliban. How are you facilitating in resolving that issue? A: We have already released hundreds of Pakistani prisoners who were either innocent or they were not hard-core militants. President Karzai announced the release of many prisoners in respect of our independence day. We expect that Pakistan will also reciprocate such actions by releasing innocent Afghans. I hope such acts would boost our relations. Q: Your country has undergone dramatic changes since 11 September. How optimistic are you about it's future relations with its neighbours? A: Afghanistan has attracted international attention since 11 September. The international community pledged its support for Afghanistan’s reconstruction through the Tokyo conference. I hope that our neighbours would participate in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and we will have a common prosperous future. Good neighbourly relations with Pakistan are important to achieve this goal.