Former Indian ambassador to Iran Dinkar P Srivastava has questioned Asim Munir-led Pakistan’s military over its recent remarks invoking religious references while commenting on India-Afghanistan ties. He asked how Islamabad reconciles those statements with its own long-standing partnerships with the United States and China.Responding to comments by Pakistan armed forces spokesperson lietenant general Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who cited a Quranic verse to suggest that Muslims should not befriend non-believers (“kaafirs”), Srivastava said the interpretation raises questions about Pakistan’s own foreign policy.“The Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) cited a verse from the Holy Quran to claim that those who maintain friendship with non-Muslims are not truly Muslims. This is his interpretation. How do you explain Pakistan’s friendship with the US and China?” Srivastava said.He also mentioned that Pakistan has historically maintained close ties with Western powers and has been a strategic ally of China for decades.“Since its inception, Pakistan has been under British and then American protection. For the last 30 to 40 years, it has been an ally of China, which is a communist country. What does that tell you about the Pakistan Army? Does that make the Pakistani Army non-Muslim?” he questioned.Srivastava commented on Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan, arguing that Islamabad’s approach towards Kabul has contributed to persistent tensions between the two countries.“Afghanistan was the only country that opposed Pakistan’s admission to the United Nations in 1947. This opposition continued even after the overthrow of the monarchy. It was maintained by the Daoud Khan government, subsequently by the communist government, and today by the Taliban government,” he said.“There has to be some other reason, and that reason is that Pakistan has treated Afghanistan as its colony, which naturally has created resentment and backlash,” he added.Former diplomat Veena Sikri also criticised Pakistan’s handling of its ties with Afghanistan, saying Islamabad has failed to understand the changing realities in the region.“They have no understanding of what is happening in their own neighbourhood. They don’t understand what the Taliban stands for, what it wants, and what it represents,” Sikri said.Referring to the Taliban’s return to power, she said Pakistan has struggled to build a stable relationship with the current Afghan leadership despite its earlier engagement.“Pakistan and Afghanistan need to talk among themselves. They need to agree among themselves. And they should stop blaming India for their own failure, for their own inability to understand their neighbours,” she said.The remarks came after Pakistan army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry sparked controversy by invoking a Quranic verse while responding to questions on India-Afghanistan relations.“Allah Almighty has made it very clear: do not take the non-believers (kaafirs) as your friends. If you do so, then you are no longer among the Muslims,” Chaudhry had said.
