PM encourages Afghan sides to reduce violence

Imran discusses peace process with visiting Taliban delegation

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed concern over the high level of violence in Afghanistan and called on all sides involved in a peace process – the US, Afghan Taliban and Afghan government – to end violence and move for a ceasefire.

The prime minister met the visiting delegation of the Taliban Political Commission (TPC), headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, which called on him on Friday and discussed progress in the Afghan peace process and the way forward, said an official statement issued after the meeting.

The Taliban delegation’s visit to Pakistan this week is the third in the last year-and-a-half. During the three-day trip aimed at consultations on the ongoing Afghan peace process, the Taliban leaders also met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and others.

A delegation of Taliban Political Commission (TPC), headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, called on the Prime Minister Imran Khan today. The discussions focused on the progress in the Afghan peace process and the way forward. pic.twitter.com/gwDmZoa82v

— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) December 18, 2020

 

“The prime minister expressed concern over the high level of violence and called on all sides for reduction in violence leading to ceasefire,” the statement read. It said that the discussions focused on the “progress in the Afghan peace process and the way forward”.

Reiterating that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict, the statement said, Imran underlined that the Intra-Afghan negotiations provided a historic opportunity to the Afghan leaders to achieve durable peace and stability through an “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process”.

The prime minister expressed the hope that the Afghan parties would continue to build on the recent positive developments in the Intra-Afghan negotiations. He “underscored Pakistan’s consistent support to an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

In the meeting, the prime minister also “underlined the need to be vigilant about the role of spoilers, who continue to make attempts to disrupt and derail the peace process”. He stressed that the return of peace and stability in Afghanistan would provide a strong impetus to economic development, regional integration, and connectivity, benefitting Afghanistan and the region.

The TPC delegation’s visit is part of Pakistan’s serious efforts to facilitate Afghan peace process to achieve a peaceful, stable, united, independent, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. The visit has come against the backdrop of some key developments.

Recently, the Afghan government and the Taliban have taken a 20-day break in their talks in Doha, Qatar. It is worth mentioning that after months of negotiations, the two sides recently agreed on the rules of engagement for the next phase of talks on future of Afghanistan and comprehensive ceasefire.

However, the US is not happy with the break in the talks as the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said the current situation warranted urgent progress on ceasefire and peace deal.

Just before Taliban’s visit, Khalilzad met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and others. It was stated that Khalilzad have sought Pakistan’s support to ensure that talks were not delayed beyond Jan 5.

On Tuesday, US’ Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley met Taliban peace negotiators and urged a reduction in violence, a spokesperson for the US military said. Gen Milley had “discussed the need for an immediate reduction of violence and accelerate progress towards a negotiated political solution which contributes to regional stability and safeguards US national interests”, it added.