PESHAWAR - Pakistan should initiate concrete steps to address the Afghan government’s concerns, a senior political leader has said, warning that mistrust between the neighbours will benefit terrorists and extremists.

Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpaotold a news conference at the party secretariat in Peshawar: “Islamabad should take solid measures in order to end the reservations being raised by the Afghan government.”

The mistrust would provide space to terrorists, he said, asking both sides to improve bilateral relations for the sake of durable peace in the region. “The bitterness and mistrust between the two states is not a good omen for ending terrorism and extremism.”

Relations between the neighbours were friendly when President Ashraf Ghani came to power, but the domestic political situation and anti-Pakistan propaganda forced him to start blaming Pakistan, the former chief minister added.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province be given maximum attention in terms of execution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, Sherpao suggested, saying the route should be built according to the original plan. (Pajhwok)