Afghanistan recalls ambassador from Pak over Imran Khan's 'reckless' statements

Afghanistan on Tuesday recalled its ambassador from Pakistan over Prime Minister Imran Khan's "irresponsible" and "reckless" statements.

Khan recently remarked that an interim government should be put in place in Afghanistan to facilitate peace talks with the Taliban as the current government creates "obstruction", according to TOLOnews.

"Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, summoned the Deputy Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan with respect to the recent irresponsible remarks of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan," Sibghatullah Ahmadi, the Spokesperson of Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on twitter.

"Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its grave objection on Pakistani PM's recent reckless statements about the peace process and establishment of an interim government, deemed such statements an obvious example of Pakistan's interventional policy and disrespect to the national sovereignty and determination of the people of Afghanistan," he outlined.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recalled Afghanistan's Ambassador from Islamabad for further discussions on the matter," Ahmadi said.

Khan's remarks were met with strong criticism across political lines in Afghanistan.

"We call on the Pakistani government and all other countries to avoid making such statements and interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan under any means including the idea for the establishment of an interim administration," former President Hamid Karzai said.

Slamming Khan's remarks, the former national security advisor Mohammad Haneef Atmar said: "Recent statement by Pakistani prime minister is interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs. The Afghan government derives its legitimacy from the Afghan people, but not from the leaders of regional countries who strive to meddle in our internal affairs and decide on the future of our government and our politics.