Pakistan urges 'all sides' for reduction in violence leading to Afghan ceasefire

Foreign minister warns against machinations of 'spoilers' from disrupting peace process

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, during a meeting with Taliban leadership, emphasised the importance of measures by all sides for reduction in the violence leading to a ceasefire in Afghanistan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFa).

In a meeting with a delegation of Taliban Political Commission (TPC), headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the foreign minister underlined the need for guarding against the machinations of “spoilers” from disrupting the process.

The delegation appreciated Pakistan’s facilitative role in the Afghan peace process and shared its perspective on various aspects of the Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

It also thanked Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than four decades.

Emphasising Pakistan’s commitment to safe and dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland, Qureshi expressed the hope that peace and stability in Afghanistan will help create conducive conditions for a time-bound and well-resourced roadmap supported by the international community.

He also highlighted the steps being taken by Pakistan to deepen the economic relations and people-to-people exchanges including visa facilitation and enhancing trade and transit for the welfare of fraternal Afghan people.

He also stressed the importance of the international community playing its role in reconstruction and economic development of Afghanistan.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for a peaceful, stable, united, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan, FM Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s belief that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.

He underlined that Pakistan will continue to facilitate the Afghan peace process and expressed the hope that the Afghan parties would seize this historic opportunity to establish lasting peace in Afghanistan through an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

Welcoming the announcement of the agreement on rules and procedures between the two negotiating sides in Doha, the foreign minister conveyed that the agreement reflects a common resolve of the parties to secure a negotiated solution.

He emphasised the importance of measures by all sides for reduction in the violence leading to a ceasefire, saying that Pakistan will respect the decisions taken by the "Afghan parties through the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process".

The Taliban Political Commission delegation is visiting the country from 16 to 18 December as part of Pakistan’s efforts of outreach to all Afghan stakeholders for a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict.

This is the third visit of Mullah Baradar to Pakistan and the latest trip comes as Taliban and Afghan government took a 20-day break in their talks taking place in Doha.

After months of negotiations, the two sides recently agreed on the rules of engagements for the next phase of talks on the political future of Afghanistan and the comprehensive ceasefire.

The visit of Taliban delegation comes two days after Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative for Afghanistan, visited Islamabad and met Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

He expressed concern over the break in talks, saying the current situation warranted urgent steps to reach a peace deal.

He hoped that the intra-Afghan talks would resume on January 5.

It is believed that Khalilzad sought Pakistan's help in making sure that there is no delay in the intra-Afghan talks.

The push for seeking a peace deal continues despite President Trump lost the elections. The incoming President Joe Biden may continue with the peace efforts but seek more concessions from the Taliban particularly on the ceasefire.