Kabul once more slams Pakistan over ‘irresponsible’ remarks about Afghanistan

Flag hoisting by the Ambassador of Pakistan in Kabul Zahid Nasrullah Khan on the Pakistan's National Day, March 22. 2019. ( screen grab from the twitter account of the Embassy of Pakistan, Kabul)

• PM Khan suggested on Friday that an interim government be formed in Afghanistan
• President Ashraf Ghani's mandate expires in May, next presidential election scheduled for Sept 28

KABUL: The Afghan government on Saturday called Pakistani Prime Minister’s remarks about setting up an interim government in Afghanistan “irresponsible,” just days after it had recalled its ambassador from Pakistan over similar comments by the premier. 
Sibghat Ahmadi, spokesman for the Afghan foreign ministry, said the Pakistan Embassy Counselor was summoned on Saturday to protest the prime minister’s statement.
Last month, reported comments by Khan that an interim Afghan government would smooth peace talks between US and Taliban officials since the militant group refuses to speak to the current government sparked a major diplomatic row with Kabul.
The Afghan government said at the time it considered Khan’s statements as “an obvious example of Pakistan’s interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan.”
On Friday, Khan reportedly once again suggested an interim setup be considered in neighboring Afghanistan where President Ashraf Ghani’s mandate expires in May.
“No one expects such irresponsible statements from a prime minister,” Haroon Chakhansuri, the chief spokesman for Ghani, told Arab News on Saturday. “Not only the Afghan government and people but also our international allies have condemned such behaviors of interference.”
Pressure is mounting on Ghani to step down before the next presidential election, scheduled for September 28. He has rejected the idea of an interim government though some of his arch-rivals support the idea.
On Saturday, many of Ghani’s opponents, including his arch rival in the presidential race, Haneef Atmar, criticized Khan’s remarks.
“Repetition of the disrespectful statement on Afghan internal matters by @imrankhanPTI is very unfortunate and deplorable,” Atmar said in a tweet.
“What we need from a neighbor is non-interference, respect for state sovereignty and genuine help for peace,”. 
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been historically tense over a long border dispute and what Afghans consider Islamabad’s alleged support for militant groups fighting in Afghanistan. Islamabad denies the charge.