US deputy secretary of state meets Gen Raheel. PHOTO: INP
The call came after a meeting between US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and army chief General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
“During the meeting both the dignitaries discussed matters related to security challenges and reiterated the need of early resumption of reconciliation process to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan which is so critical for stability in the region,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The US deputy secretary acknowledged sacrifices and efforts made by Pakistani security forces for peace and stability in the region, according to the military’s media wing.
US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale and Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP), Richard Olson were also present during the meeting.
Efforts to restart the stalled peace talks appear to have picked up pace after an agreement between key stakeholders—Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US and China—that reconciliation is the most viable option to end violence in the war-torn country.
After flurry of meetings on Wednesday at the sidelines of Heart of Asia-Istanbul conference, all the four countries agreed to make efforts for early resumption of talks between Kabul and reconcilable factions of Afghan Taliban.
A quadrilateral meeting of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States agreed to work together to enhance mutual trust and confidence between Afghanistan and Pakistan to create an enabling environment for peace talks and broadening political, economic and security cooperation.
The meeting expressed full commitment to enabling an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process that promotes a dialogue between the Afghan government and Taliban groups, including reduction and renunciation of violence. It was agreed that reconciliation remains the most viable option to end violence and promote stability in Afghanistan and the region. All four countries agreed to work together to create a conducive atmosphere that encourages Taliban groups to engage in meaningful and sustained negotiations.
Pakistan-brokered peace talks collapsed in July after the news of confirmation of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar’s death. The appointment of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as new Taliban chief has led to divisions among insurgents, casting doubt over the possible peace deal.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2015.
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