Pakistan urges US, Afghan Taliban to resume talks to find 'negotiated peace'

There is no military solution to conflict in Afghanistan, says FO

Hours after the Trump administration's decision to call off negotiations with Afghan Taliban, Pakistan on Sunday urged the United States and Taliban to resume the peace talks to find a solution in Afghanistan and reiterated that there is "no military solution" to the 18-year-long war.

“Pakistan will continue to monitor the developments. Pakistan reiterates its principled policy stance that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and urges that both sides must re-engage to find negotiated peace from the ongoing political settlement process,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

Pakistan looks for optimised engagement following earliest resumption of talks, it added.

The communique comes after President Donald Trump said that he was cancelling the talks because the Taliban, who have never halted their campaign of violence, had killed a US serviceman in a car bombing in Kabul on Thursday.



“We have learnt about the cancellation of President Trump’s meeting with the Taliban and Afghan government representatives in Camp David,” the statement read.

According to the official communique, Pakistan has always condemned violence and called on all sides for restraint and commitment to pursue the process.

"Pakistan has been facilitating the peace and reconciliation process in good faith and as a shared responsibility, and has encouraged all sides to remain engaged with sincerity and patience", it further added.