Afghanistan people deserve peace: Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo

Islamabad: NATO Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo Saturday said Afghanistan people deserve peace.

Speaking at a webinar on ‘Moving Past Quagmire: Power-share and Governance Futures in Afghanistan’ – organised by the Jinnah Institute- Ambassador Pontecorvo said the international community expected that cessation of violence topped the agenda of talks going on in Doha.

“But more than ever, dignified peace must be ensured. Investments in fundamental freedoms, girls’ education and healthcare must be preserved,” the former Italian Ambassador to Pakistan said.

Jinnah Institute chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman asked when the exit gets messy will start comm machines lay the blame elsewhere?

“Pakistan has been at the receiving end of such blame. Having fought a long war and lost lives, Pakistan seeks sustainable peace in Afghanistan and be an enabler of commitments towards common ends,” she added,

Ambassador Richard G. Olson, former US Special Representative for Afghanistan said: “We need an actor, other than the US, to convene a regional dynamic that can draw Iran in as well.”

He added: “While the USA and Iran don’t have divergent objectives in Afghanistan, but we have to monitor how the endgame pans out especially after next year.”