General Jon F Campbell and General Raheel Sharif exchange views at GHQ. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and the United States have agreed to persuade Afghanistan to revive the stalled reconciliation process with Afghan Taliban in the latest push to restore peace in the war-ravaged country.
The prospect of resumption of talks was discussed during a meeting between army chief General Raheel Sharif and the top US general stationed in Afghanistan, and President Obama’s pointman for the region at the GHQ in Rawalpindi on Monday.
The visit of the commander Resolute Support Mission and US Forces in Afghanistan, General John F Campbell, who was accompanied by acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Jarret Blanc, came against the backdrop of strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and regional security with particular emphasis on coordination along Pak-Afghan border and reconciliation process in Afghanistan were discussed,” said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). However, the military’s media wing would not provide further details.
A senior security official told The Express Tribune that the thrust of discussions between the US delegation and the army chief was on how to revive the stalled peace process. The security official, who asked not to be identified, said detractors and spoilers were undermining the process of rapprochement as well as efforts for striking a peace deal in Afghanistan.
The army chief reportedly informed the American delegation that Pakistan was committed to facilitating the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. However, he cautioned that Afghanistan’s anti-Pakistan propaganda would not serve any purpose.
The official claimed that Washington has also realised that Kabul had gone too far in criticising Islamabad. “Initially, they [the Americans] were listening to Afghanistan more but now they have realised that Pakistan’s approach is right,” the official added.
Pakistan had hosted the first-ever face-to-face dialogue between the representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban in July at the popular hill station Murree. The second round was, however, called off following the announcement of death of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar.
The bitter transition of power in the Taliban was followed by a string of deadly assaults in Afghanistan, including capital Kabul. To cover up its failure to check Taliban attacks, Afghan officials blamed Pakistan’s security establishment and its top intelligence agency for the uptick in violence. Islamabad has strongly dismissed the allegations.
Asked whether the new Afghan Taliban leadership was willing to enter into negotiations the official admitted that reviving the peace process might need time and concerted efforts. “But this is the only way forward as far as Pakistan is concerned,” the official added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2015.
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