Dr. Abdullah accompanies high-level delegation visit to Islamabad, amidst escalating violence in Afghanistan

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of the High Council for National Reconciliation will be accompanying a high-level government delegation to Islamabad today for a three-day visit, where he will be expected to meet the Prime Minister, President, Chairman of the Senate, Speaker of the National Assembly, Foreign Minister, and other dignitaries.

In his statement, Dr. Abdullah mentioned that this crucial visit will “provide a unique opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on Afghanistan peace talks in Doha, and bilateral relations”, in the midst of the escalating violence between pro-government forces and insurgent groups.

In a comprehensive report from the New York Times, which compiles any significant security incidents in Afghanistan involving insurgents, security officials, and civilians over the span of a full month, it has been revealed that 380 pro-government officials and 125 civilians were killed in the month of September.

Despite the factional stalemate in the aftermath of the historic Afghan peace deal, the number of pro-government officials being killed in the month of September is the highest for the entire year - and while the reports confirmed casualty figures, it can be noted that many local officials refuse to confirm casualty information, leading to significant discrepancies in the data. Furthermore, government claims of insurgent casualty figures, and claims by the Taliban, are routinely inflated.

In a recent article for the Washington Post, Prime Minister Imran Khan dispelled decades of misconceptions pertaining to Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan, and argued that a hasty international withdrawal would do insurmountable damage to the peace process, stating that peace is within reach and international arbitration is essential in ensuring that all concerned parties remain on the same page.