Pakistan will try to broker US, Afghan Taliban ceasefire: sources

KARACHI: Pakistan’s efforts will centre on convincing both the Afghan Taliban and the United States to agree to a temporary ceasefire before a final agreement is reached, Roznama Express has learnt as both the delegations led by Mullah Baradar from the insurgents’ side and US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad have arrived in the federal capital.

According to sources, delay and suspension in the peace process, which was stalled last month after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the peace talks, will be examined.

A timeframe for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan will also come under discussion, the sources added.

Since the suspension of the dialogue, the Pakistani leadership, insiders said, started efforts for its resumption. Prime Minister Imran Khan, on his recent tour to the US, had informed the US president that there was no military solution to the 18-year-old conflict, and pressed to hold talks with the insurgent group.

The sources in the government said Pakistan’s back-channel diplomacy bore fruit, and talks will start soon.

Insiders said Pakistani officials will try convincing the Afghan Taliban to announce a temporary ceasefire in Afghanistan so that talks towards ending the war could resume and continue in a conducive environment.

The draft and points of the initial agreement will be examined again once the talks begin, the sources said, adding Pakistani officials are hopeful that talks will resume soon and that all Afghan groups will be represented for the success of the reconciliation process.