ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday warned Western powers of the consequences of a security vacuum in Afghanistan, asking them to "do right by the Afghans."
Pakistan, which is considered close to the Taliban who seized power in Afghanistan earlier this month, says it is urging the insurgent group to create an inclusive government in the war-torn country.
Many believe that a Taliban-only government may lead to more bloodshed in Afghanistan, where violence will have a spillover effect in the region. It is also a reminder of the Soviet-Afghan conflict that ended a quarter-century ago, when civil war after the withdrawal of Soviet forces set the stage for the Taliban's takeover of the country in 1996.
"A security vacuum, mind you, will end up with the same results for the West that it did last time," Yusuf said in an interview with BBC Radio. "The UK is much more vulnerable than the US and others."
He criticized Western powers for talking about Afghans as if they were a "commodity," warning of a humanitarian crisis after foreign forces fully withdrew from Afghanistan.
The top Pakistani security official stressed the need for the international community to remain politically and economically engaged with Afghanistan to avoid such a scenario.
"We must avoid it, we must do it together and we must influence everybody in the environment to make sure Afghans get what they require," he said.
Asked if Pakistan would use its influence over the Taliban to make them form an inclusive government, Yusuf said the UK and the US had been engaging the Taliban every day and they had much more leverage over the insurgents than Pakistan.
"The Taliban want legitimacy, they want assistance to continue, we dun have the money you do," he said. "Pakistan is doing what it can, but it has to be a united effort."
The official said the world needed to ensure that it does "right by the Afghans" and doesn't "abandon them again".
He said Pakistan had suffered the most from the war in Afghanistan.
"Please, do not keep talking about Pakistan as if we have some magic bond and we can fix the problem," Yusuf said. "Only the international community together can."
He said all stakeholders should ensure that the Taliban have a moderate entity and an inclusive government in Afghanistan: "Pakistan cannot afford a protracted conflict... Afghans deserve better from the world."
The Pakistani NSA said Pakistan has always been on the frontlines of humanitarian assistance, adding that so far they have evacuated or helped evacuate over 7,000 people from 18 countries.
At least 500 people were airlifted by Pakistan's national flag-carrier in very difficult security situations, prioritizing it over its own aviation needs, Yusuf said.
"Pakistan is working with the entire international community day and night," he said. "Whatever we can, air or land borders, we are doing that and no other country comes close to what we have done so far."
He denied reports of a panic on the country's borders, adding that Pakistan had libralized its visa regime and was allowing people to come to the border to get visas on arrival if they qualified.
"Pakistan is ready and willing and available," he said.
In a separate development, David Beasley, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program, has thanked the Pakistani government for its assistance in building a "humanitarian air bridge" between Islamabad and Kabul and other destinations to help evacuate desperate people in Afghanistan.
Beasley's statement was a reference to Pakistan's help in the repair of WFP aircraft that were damaged in Kabul. The aircraft were recently brought to the Islamabad airport.
The UN agency is currently busy evacuating its personnel, aid workers and other desperate people in Afghanistan, according to the WFP chief.
"Our damaged planes from Kabul have been repaired and WFP is now ready to establish a humanitarian air bridge between Islamabad-Kabul & other destinations in Afghanistan," Beasley said in his tweet, along with a video in which he could be seen standing on the tarmac of Islamabad airport. "Thank you."
Beasley also met Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, the AP news agency reported. The Pakistan premier called on the international community to continue engagement with Afghanistan, saying it was a "way forward to avert any humanitarian crisis and secure peace and stability."
