Pakistan’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf refuses to attend the conference on Afghanistan hosted by India. In a press briefing at the Foreign Office, the NSA revealed that he would not visit New Delhi for the conference.
Back in October, India proposed to host a meeting of stakeholder countries’ NSAs to discuss the Afghan humanitarian crisis. India invited Pakistan, along with Russia, Iran, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Talking to journalists, following a ceremony during which Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed a protocol on the establishment of a joint security commission to enhance bilateral cooperation in security-related matters, Moeed Yusuf said, “I will not visit New Delhi on India’s invitation.”
“A spoiler cannot take the role of a peacemaker,” Moeed Yusuf asserted.
"I Will Not Go! I Am Not Going…
A Spoiler Can Not Be a Peace Maker"NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf responds to a question about attending the Indian NSA-level meet on #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/kGTfI5Qoia
— Malik Ali Raza (@MalikAliiRaza) November 2, 2021
To clarify, India, on several occasions, spread false information regarding Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan. Indian media ran a propaganda campaign maligning Pakistan’s efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan.
One such example of India’s vast disinformation campaign is when it used footage from a video game against Pakistan. Indian media portrayed the footage as Pakistan’s Air Force attacking Afghanistan.
Read more: Indian media accuses PAF of attacking Panjshir with fake gaming video
Experts believe India’s effort to host the regional conference is an attempt to deflect domestic pressure and the impression that New Delhi has been left out of Afghan consultations.
Strengthening Pak-Uzbek ties
On the other hand, NSA Moeed Yusuf reiterated that Pakistan and Uzbekistan held the same views on the Afghanistan issue. He urged coordination with Uzbekistan for the sake of the Afghan people.
Pleasure to announce that Pakistan & Uzbekistan today signed a historic Protocol on Joint Security Commission, followed by the inaugural session of the Commission. This will help strengthen coordination on security and regional connectivity between our two brotherly countries. pic.twitter.com/SWnyQHoOZd
— Moeed W. Yusuf (@YusufMoeed) November 2, 2021
The Joint Security Commission between Uzbekistan and Pakistan will help curb transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. This will also help in capacity building.
The NSA added that Pakistan already signed MoUs with Uzbekisation on military education and defense cooperation which would be further improved under the new mechanism where the National Security Division would be the main coordinator.
Moreover, the head of the Uzbek delegation, Lt. Gen. Victor Makhmudov, will also meet PM Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Read more: Pakistan and Uzbekistan: The silver jubilee of a good relation