Peshawar, October 14: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has emphasized that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore its relationship with Afghanistan and must engage in constructive dialogue to ensure lasting peace in the region. Speaking to the media in Peshawar on Monday, Raja underscored the need for diplomatic engagement, saying that stability and security in Pakistan are directly tied to a peaceful and cooperative Afghanistan.
“We cannot live without settling matters with Afghanistan,” Raja stated. “Peace will remain out of reach until both countries sit together and have an honest dialogue.” He noted that Pakistan’s western border has historically been sensitive, and cross-border challenges such as militancy, trade disruptions, and refugee movements cannot be managed without a well-defined and mutually beneficial framework between Islamabad and Kabul.
Raja’s remarks come at a time when relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain tense over cross-border militancy and mutual allegations of harboring hostile elements. Over the past several months, Pakistan has faced repeated security incidents originating from Afghan territory, leading to heightened concern within Islamabad’s policymaking circles.
The PTI secretary general said his party believes that national security should be rooted in diplomacy and regional understanding rather than isolation or confrontation. “Peace in Pakistan is not possible without peace in Afghanistan,” he said. “We have to think beyond immediate politics and act in the long-term interest of both nations.”
Commenting on domestic political developments, Salman Akram Raja took a swipe at the opposition, accusing rival parties of trying unsuccessfully to create rifts within PTI. “The opposition believed they could engineer divisions in our party, but they have failed miserably,” he remarked. “Their childish and irresponsible behavior shows that they have lost touch with the political realities of today’s Pakistan.”
He further asserted that the democratic process in the country has moved forward and that attempts to derail it will not succeed. “The people have made their choice, and democratic institutions are functioning. It’s time for all parties to focus on governance, not disruption,” he said.
Raja’s comments reflect PTI’s evolving strategy to position itself as a pro-dialogue and stability-focused political force while maintaining a firm stance on national security. Analysts say his statement signals that PTI seeks to play a constructive role in shaping Pakistan’s foreign policy discourse, particularly concerning Afghanistan — an issue that continues to define much of the country’s internal security and regional diplomacy.
Observers also note that Raja’s message is likely aimed at reassuring both the domestic audience and international stakeholders that PTI supports a pragmatic and peace-oriented approach rather than confrontation or ideological rigidity.
