Islamabad: Pakistan’s foreign minister has said that the Afghan Taliban are eager to move towards reduction in violence paving the way for ceasefire and peace in Afghanistan, which Pakistan believes is crucial for regional peace.
“Taliban are convinced that continuation of war and conflict is not in their interest nor in Afghanistan’s interest… Their desire and seriousness to proceed towards peace is a positive sign” Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said after meeting Taliban high-powered delegation in Islamabad on Wednesday.
FM Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s sincere wishes for “reduction in violence and ceasefire” to end decades of conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan. The next meeting on Afghan peace process would be held on January 5, 2021, he revealed.
Taliban delegation visits Pakistan
Pakistan’s foreign minister held a detailed meeting with Taliban political commission delegation, led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, which also included the key Taliban negotiator Sheikh Hakeem. The delegation arrived in Pakistan on December 16 on a three-day visit during which they will meet the country’s top leadership including the prime minister.
The visit by the Taliban team comes immediately after the December 14 meeting of US special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, and General Austin Scott Miller, US commander in Afghanistan, with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. They discussed the resumption of peace talks after a three-week break in intra-Afghan negotiations.
Pakistan’s role vital in Afghan peace talks
Pakistan’s role as a mediator has been crucial in bringing together the Afghan stakeholders to the negotiating table that culminated in the landmark US-Taliban peace deal signed in February 2020 to end the 18-year war. “The international community has recognised and appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role and contribution in the Afghan peace talks” Qureshi said. Pakistan’s support, he said, helped achieve three milestones: US-Taliban peace agreement (February 2020), the commencement of Afghan peace process and agreement categorising rules and procedures for a political roadmap for peace. He also underlined the need for guarding against the network of “spoilers” from disrupting the peace process.
Regional peace and development
Taliban’s visit “is part of Pakistan’s policy to reach out to key Afghan parties in the Afghan peace process with a view to facilitating the intra-Afghan negotiations” according to Pakistan Foreign Office statement. “Pakistan will continue to support an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement for durable peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region.”
Qureshi stressed that peace in Afghanistan are “essential for peace and stability in the entire region”. The recent high-level talks between the two countries including Dr Abdullah Abdullah’s visit to Islamabad followed by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Afghanistan are aimed at promoting Pak-Afghan ties in diverse areas with focus on trade.
He also urged the international community to play its role in reconstruction and economic development of Afghanistan, which, he said, will help pave the way for dignified return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan.