By Tamim Hamid
Immediately after assuming office as president of Afghanistan, president Ashraf Ghani undertook the bold but controversial move of adopting a conciliatory approach toward Pakistan to secure Islamabad’s cooperation in bringing the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.
Over the past two years, Ghani has come up with several messages to Pakistan to persuade the neighboring nation to accomplish its responsibility in the fight against terrorism and brokering purposeful peace negotiation talks with the Taliban group.
In his latest message to Pakistan, Ghani reiterated calls to Pakistan to enter a political dialogue and to include peace with Pakistan at the top of the Afghanistan national agenda.
Sour relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have frequently made headlines and ties between the two countries have passed through major ups and downs over the course of time.
“Before this, Pakistan was dealing with Afghanistan as a marginalized point, Pakistan believed that if the Karachi port is closed, if Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings are closed, there would be screaming and shouting but the era of shouting and screaming has passed my brother,” said Ghani during a speech in Kabul four months ago.
But, on a different occasion, Ghani tried to draw red lines for Pakistan.
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