[Current Affairs] 07 June, 2021 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for PPSC Test Preparation

2. Foreign Minister slams Afghan official for “demeaning remarks”

What’s going on? During what sounded like an emotionally fired up speech, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, responded to a comment that Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser, Hamdullah Mohib, made about Pakistan. Qureshi called on him to “correct his behavior” and “reflect on it.”

The details: According to a Voice of America (VOA) report, Mohib suggested that Pakistan is “a brothel house” while visiting Nangarhar province in Afghanistan last month. During his speech, Mohib apparently repeated his past allegations about Pakistan’s intelligence agency supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. The context behind the “brothel” comment is still unclear, as in, we’re not sure how or why he brought it up since we haven’t come across a direct quote from Mohib’s speech. However, Pakistani leaders were reportedly outraged.

Tell me more: While responding to Mohib’s remarks about Pakistan, Qureshi said the guy who is supposed to be Afghanistan’s national security advisor will actually become an obstacle in the Afghan peace process and make things worse if he doesn’t keep his behavior in check. Qureshi also claimed that Pakistan has suffered a huge cost, in terms of financials and lives lost, due to terrorism. At this point, he said Pakistan only wants peace and stability in the region.

The context: This diplomatic spat is happening in the background of an ongoing Afghan peace process, which is taking its time. Pakistan reportedly played a role in getting the Afghan Taliban and Afghan govt officials to start negotiating with each other directly after decades of conflict. Any potential rift in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan could delay the process even more, since they need to be on good terms.

Something to know: In the past, Pakistan and Afghanistan have blamed each other for militant attacks in their countries. Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, once called on Pakistani authorities to take “concrete action” against insurgents in Pakistan. Afghan officials have claimed that attacks in Afghanistan originate from militant training centers in Pakistan. The U.S. has also accused Pakistan of giving the Taliban a safe haven. However, Pakistan denies giving sanctuaries to militants. Pakistan also claimed that insurgents in Afghanistan carry out attacks in Pakistani territory.

Looking ahead: Some media reports, while citing unnamed sources, claimed that Pakistan won’t conduct official business with Mohib any more. However, there’s still no confirmation that Pakistan has actually cut off official communication with Mohib.

The bottom line: Pakistan and Afghanistan have a history of trust issues.