Following the arrest of the former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, the members and supporters of his party commenced large-scale demonstrations, which turned in to violent. They also attacked police stations and high ranking police officer’s dwellings and destroyed them.
Pakistani journalists said that the political situation in this country is not good and the situation is tense, but the bad political situation of Pakistan cannot affect Afghanistan in the way it is thought.
“The overall situation is not good in Pakistan and following the arrest of Imran Khan, PTI supporters have held demonstrations in many cities of Pakistan, which turned to violent and the situation is not good because there was already a political crisis in Pakistan and it may increase further. It is natural that the problems in Pakistan have an impact on Afghanistan, but it will not be too much.” Pakistani journalist Tahir Khan commentated
Meanwhile, Political experts believed that this is the first time in its history that Pakistan is encountering a dangerous domestic political crisis and it is not expected that it will end soon.
They added that this is the first time that the people of Pakistan have raised against the army in the framework of a political party and they want to salvage themselves from its tyranny.
Political commentator Turiyalai Zazai commentated: “Pakistan is now facing a very bad crisis and it will not end soon. This is the first time that the people of Pakistan have joined a party and they want to save themselves from the tyranny of the military and ISI.”
Some others are of the opinion that the arrest of Imran Khan by the army has put Pakistan under serious threat and there are international contradictions going on in the country, which may be beyond the power of the army to curb the current crisis.
“Pakistan, which is drowning in debt, is threatened by insecurity, its neighbors are afraid of it, and there are international contradictions, especially between the US and China, as a result of which Pakistan may be destroyed, the involvement of the Pakistani army in political events or the arrest of Imran Khan is the most serious threat to Pakistan and it may be difficult for the army to control it.” Political analyst Hikmatullah Hikmat uttered
On the other hand, Afghan traders said that it is true that Afghanistan has 50% transit and trade with Pakistan, but the current crisis cannot affect Afghanistan’s trade.
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan’s current political turmoil and crisis will only have a short-term impact on Afghanistan’s transit.
The US has also called the current situation of Pakistan worrying and its consequences would be dangerous for Islamabad.
Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said that the confused presentation of its domestic situation by a developed country like Pakistan to the world does not have good results.
Khalilzad asked the countries that have close ties with Islamabad to save Pakistan from viable collapse.
He added: “The arrest of the former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, is really deplorable and will have large-scale consequences, and it is a pity that a country defines its national interests with its Islamic identity, and then in such a chaotic manner the situation is presented to the world.
The countries that have strong relations with Pakistan should help the leaders of the country to reach an agreement to prevent a possible collapse.”
According to the experts, obviously, the current political situation in Pakistan will affect negatively the Afghans who live in Pakistan and the Afghan patients who go to Pakistan for treatment will also face challenges.
