ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Afghan peace process for a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
In a telephonic conversation with Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s call on all the Afghan sides for taking measures for reduction in violence leading to ceasefire. The prime minister also discussed the progress in the on-going Afghan peace process and strengthening of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
PM Imran Khan welcomed the recent progress in the Intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha. He underlined that Pakistan’s outreach to all Afghan stakeholders is part of its facilitative efforts to ensure progress towards an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.
The latest visit of Taliban Political Commission to Pakistan is also in this context. The two leaders agreed to continue their engagement for supporting the peace process and enhancing bilateral cooperation.
It may be mentioned that delegation of the Afghan Taliban is currently in Islamabad and called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to discuss issues impeding the start of the intra-Afghan dialogue.
Mullah Baradar, the director of the Doha-based political office and Taliban’s deputy emir responsible for political affairs, led the delegation which foreign ministry on Wednesday In a statement, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that views on the current status of the Afghan peace process and the way forward were exchanged during the meeting.
During the meeting, the foreign minister reiterated that Pakistan desires durable peace in Afghanistan. “Pakistan played its possible reconciliatory role in the agreement reached between the Afghan Taliban and the United States in Doha,” he added.
“The agreement on the rules for intra-Afghan talks is a welcome development. Pakistan has been stating since the beginning that the only way for peace in Afghanistan is meaningful and comprehensive dialogue,” he remarked.
Qureshi further said that peace in Afghanistan was imperative for peace and stability in the entire region. “Pakistan wants promotion of multifaceted ties with Afghanistan,” he added. The Afghan Taliban delegation head Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar lauded Pakistan’s reconciliatory efforts for peace in Afghanistan.
