Islamabad should stop interfering in Afghanistan affairs: Sharif

Islamabad: Pakistan should stop trying to influence affairs in Afghanistan, the opposition leader said Tuesday, while admitting that the pro-Afghan Taliban policy he pursued when he was prime minister in the 1990s was a failure.

Nawaz Sharif's comments come as he tries to gain political traction and deflect criticism that his party is beholden to extremist elements. Just last week, he pushed the government to open talks with elements of the Pakistani Taliban, and the ruling party agreed to his proposal to hold a national conference on stopping terrorism.

In an interview with Pakistan's Dunya TV that aired Monday and yesterday, Sharif appeared to renounce a policy he pursued with vigour while twice prime minister in the 1990s. Back then, Pakistan openly supported the Afghan Taliban movement as it pushed out other armed factions such as the Northern Alliance and gained control of Kabul.

"Pakistan should abandon this thinking that Pakistan has to keep influence in Afghanistan," said Sharif, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. "Neither will they accept influence, nor should the pro-influence-minded people here insist on it." ..... - gulfnews : Islamabad should stop interfering in Afghanistan ...

نواز شريف: پاکستان از مداخله در امور افغانستان خودداري کند