COAS, US commander discuss Afghan peace ahead of Taliban talks

Matters related to geo-strategic environment, regional security, Pak-US military cooperation also discussed, says ISPR

US Centcom Commander General Kenneth F McKenzie Jr called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

According to the military's media wing, geo-strategic environment, regional security, Pak-US military cooperation including the Afghanistan peace process and Kashmir situation discussed during the meeting.

General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr, Commander US CENTCOM, called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Geo-strategic environment, regional security, Pak - US military cooperation including #Afghanistan Peace Process and #Kashmir situation discussed. pic.twitter.com/BWrhxtJs7B

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 11, 2020

The meeting was held at a time when crucial talks between the Afghan government and Taliban are set to begin on Saturday in Doha after months of delay primarily on the issue of prisoners exchange.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a statement earlier, had urged all sides to ‘seize historic opportunity’ in order to put an end to the long military conflict. “I warmly welcome the announcement regarding the commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations on 12 September 2020. Finally, our combined efforts have brought forth the day that the Afghan people have been yearning for."

Through relentless efforts, the prime minister said, Pakistan had played a pivotal role in facilitating the Afghan peace process to this juncture. “We feel deeply gratified today as we have fulfilled our part of the responsibility.”

The intra-Afghan dialogue will evolve a consensus among all the political players including Afghan Taliban about the future political set up in the war-torn country, especially after the US troops withdrawal.

Observers are cautiously optimistic about the peace deal as US President Donald Trump seeks to show Afghanistan as success story before going for re-election later this year.