Trump's aide pushes Pakistan for Taliban talks
Alice Wells is scheduled to meet senior officials at Foreign Office as well as military authorities
Alice G Wells. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
US President Donald Trump’s point-person for the region on Monday visited Islamabad and held crucial talks with senior authorities on how to resurrect the moribund Afghan peace process.
Ambassador Alice Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, met Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua at the foreign office. The foreign office confirmed the meeting but both sides remained tightlipped about outcome of the talks.
Officials and diplomatic sources, however, told The Express Tribune that agenda was to find a common ground on the Afghanistan endgame. Wells, according to some sources, urged Pakistan to do more to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.
Afghan president orders troops to resume operations against Taliban
Wells statement just ahead of her meetings with Pakistani officials suggested the frustration on part of the Trump administration about Islamabad role or lack of it in the Afghan peace process.
But far from Wells assessment, the Afghan government seemed to be satisfied with Pakistan’s recent peace efforts. On Saturday, President Ashraf Ghani said Pakistan and Afghanistan had worked out a roadmap for the Afghan peace. He, however, would not provide further details.
After months of tensions, relations between Islamabad and Kabul have seen an improvement in the recent weeks due to frantic efforts from both sides. The two neighbours have developed a framework where they have agreed to discuss and sort out all bilateral issues as well as the Afghan peace process.
US President Donald Trump’s point-person for the region on Monday visited Islamabad and held crucial talks with senior authorities on how to resurrect the moribund Afghan peace process.
Ambassador Alice Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, met Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua at the foreign office. The foreign office confirmed the meeting but both sides remained tightlipped about outcome of the talks.
Officials and diplomatic sources, however, told The Express Tribune that agenda was to find a common ground on the Afghanistan endgame. Wells, according to some sources, urged Pakistan to do more to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.
Afghan president orders troops to resume operations against Taliban
Wells statement just ahead of her meetings with Pakistani officials suggested the frustration on part of the Trump administration about Islamabad role or lack of it in the Afghan peace process.
But far from Wells assessment, the Afghan government seemed to be satisfied with Pakistan’s recent peace efforts. On Saturday, President Ashraf Ghani said Pakistan and Afghanistan had worked out a roadmap for the Afghan peace. He, however, would not provide further details.
After months of tensions, relations between Islamabad and Kabul have seen an improvement in the recent weeks due to frantic efforts from both sides. The two neighbours have developed a framework where they have agreed to discuss and sort out all bilateral issues as well as the Afghan peace process.