US, China add weight to Afghan peace push

Bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral meetings resolve to help restore peace in war-torn country

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States have expressed their commitment to enabling an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process that promotes a dialogue between Kabul and Taliban insurgents for cessation of violence.

A communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that the trilateral huddle at the Prime Minister House agreed that peace and reconciliation remained the surest way to end violence and ensure stability in Afghanistan and the region.



The meeting expressed resolve to accelerate diplomatic and political efforts to put an end to the conflict in Afghanistan. “The aim of the peace process will be to negotiate in good faith to resolve outstanding issues, build on areas of agreement and develop a lasting solution that meets the needs of all Afghans,” said the statement.

“All three countries will work to create conditions that encourage participation of Taliban groups in a peace process that demonstrates to them that they have a real option of political engagement.”

They agreed on immediate start of peace talks. “All efforts for dialogue between the government of Afghanistan and Taliban groups will be explored and encouraged. All will pursue with urgency confidence-building measures that reduce the level of violence in Afghanistan and allow for full participation and talks by all participants.”



Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed that all forms of terrorism presented a great threat to both countries and the region. Both countries committed to prevent their territory from being used by extremist groups and acknowledged that those who refused to join a political resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan must be opposed with all means available.



The Prime Minister House remained a hub of a flurry of activity as it hosted a series of back-to-back bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral meetings aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan and the region.

Premier Nawaz held a bilateral meeting with Afghan President Ghani, joined in by their aides. “The Afghan leader said he has come to Pakistan due to Sharif’s sincere efforts,” an official at the Prime Minister House told The Express Tribune. The official said international forces, particularly the US and China, played an important role in bringing Ghani back to the negotiating table.

According to the official, the prime minister hoped the stalled reconciliation process between the Afghan government and the Taliban would soon be revived. Besides the trilateral meeting between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US, the PM House was also the venue of a quadrilateral meeting between the three countries and China.

All the meetings focused on ways to foster efforts for regional cooperation and connectivity to promote long-term peace, stability and development in Afghanistan and the region.



Terming the fight against terrorism an ‘irreversible process’, the PM Nawaz said Pakistan was a strong advocate of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Talking to US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who led a delegation at the PM House, the premier said the government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism was getting stronger.

Blinken said Washington appreciated Islamabad’s commitment towards promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. He lauded Nawaz’s strong statement of endorsing the legitimacy and sovereignty of the Afghan government and Afghanistan.

He reiterated that the US recognised Pakistan’s efforts in its fight against extremism and terrorism and would help Pakistan and Afghanistan in promoting good economic relationship.

Blinken later told a news conference that Washington would support Pak-Afghan efforts to reengage with the Taliban for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.



“The message the Taliban should be receiving is that it is through dialogue and not military means that any progress could be achieved in Afghanistan,” he said. “So there is a reaffirmation of the need to this process. The commitment today is to reengage in the process.”

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told PM Nawaz that Pakistan had played an important role in the Heart of Asia conference. “We appreciate the leadership of the prime minister of Pakistan in leading the war against extremism and terrorism.”

Nawaz appreciated the support extended to Pakistan by the Chinese leadership. Talking to the visiting foreign minister, who led a delegation at the PM House, the premier said the Chinese leadership played a key role in laying the foundations of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

“The Pakistani nation is grateful to the Chinese leadership for taking the relationship to the highest level,” said Nawaz. “We thank the Chinese leadership for supporting Pakistan in our energy and infrastructure sector.”

The foreign minister reiterated that China and Pakistan shared the same destiny.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2015.