Afghanistan has recalled its ambassador from Pakistan over reported remarks by Prime Minister Imran Khan that suggested Kabul should set up an interim government, calling the comments "irresponsible." Khan told Pakistani journalists on Monday that forming an interim Afghan government would smooth peace talks between US and Taliban officials since the militant group refuses to speak to the current government, according to comments published in The Express Tribune.
"The Afghan government was a hurdle in (the) peace process that was insisting that Taliban should talk to it," Khan is quoted as saying. He also said he had cancelled a scheduled meeting with Taliban leaders because of objections by the Afghan government. Afghanistan summoned Pakistan's deputy ambassador to discuss the "irresponsible" remarks by Khan, said foreign affairs ministry spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi in a series of tweets on Tuesday. The Afghan government deemed Khan's statements as "an obvious example of Pakistan's interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan," Ahmadi said.