PHOTO: Radio Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday highlighted the pivotal role played by Pakistan in hammering out a peace deal between the United States and the Afghan Taliban scheduled to be signed on Feb 29.
“We constructed a roadmap to peace,” he said a day after 18 months of gruelling talks between the American and Taliban negotiators finally paid off and the two sides confirmed they would be signing the historic agreement later this month.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Qureshi noted that the “historic breakthrough” could not have been achieved without Islamabad’s efforts and the deal would be signed in the presence of Pakistani representatives.
“It was not easy to bring the Taliban to the table for negotiations, which is why the entire world, including the US, is appreciating Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process,” he added.
“The world knows that the two sides have been fighting for over 19 years. After US President Donald Trump cancelled the peace process in a single tweet following a death [of a US soldier], it was Pakistan who convinced the US to restart negotiations.”
Qureshi pointed out that when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had arrived in Islamabad for his maiden visit last year, ties between the two countries were at their lowest ebb.
It’s official: US, Taliban to sign peace accord on February 29
“Pompeo told me that the pathway to fixing relations between Pakistan and the US came through Kabul. Now, I would like to remind him that we have fulfilled all our promises. Not only did we build a peace team but we also played our role in ensuring that the negotiations were successful.”
The minister also said that US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad had held a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan and himself on the peace process during his recent visit to Islamabad.
“I also told Khalilzad that the US and its allies around the region must remain wary of certain elements who benefit from continued fighting [in Afghanistan]. I warned him that these elements are bent on destroying the progress of our peace efforts.”
Qureshi reiterated that the Afghan peace process was a complex one and that there was no military solution to the conflict.
“The world must understand that the solution to the Afghan conflict will only come through a political settlement based on diplomatic negotiations.”
The minister advised the Afghan government to think about the future of its country and double its efforts to restore peace, besides shunning partisan domestic politics to ensure lasting peace.
“After February, we will try to build a delegation to promote intra-Afghan peace process and we have also decided when and how those talks will take place. Pakistan has played its role in the peace process with wholeheartedness and honesty and it is now incumbent upon the Afghan government to do the same.”
Qureshi said peace in Afghanistan would benefit the entire region, including Pakistan, and promote bilateral trade between the two countries.
Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process was lauded by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres during his recent trip to Islamabad. China, Russia, Japan and several other countries have also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to restore peace in its war-torn neighbouring country.
Meanwhile, the Afghans woke up to a week-long partial truce on Saturday after the Taliban, the US and local forces all agreed to a lull that could be a major turning point in the long conflict.
If the so-called “reduction in violence” holds, it will be a major step towards withdrawing US troops after more than 18 years.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ