ISLAMABAD:
Senior officials from Pakistan and the United States held talks on Sunday to break the apparent deadlock in efforts to reach out to the Afghan Taliban for a peaceful end to a decade-long war.
A high-level US delegation, led by US acting special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan David Pearce, travelled to Islamabad to meet senior Pakistani civil and military officials. He was assisted by Special Assistant to US President Lt Gen (retd) Dagulas Lute, Principal Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Dr Peter Lavoy and Ambassador Richard Olson.
The American delegation met with Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in Rawalpindi. Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani was also in attendance. The meeting came at a time when tension is running high between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The focus of discussions, a foreign official disclosed, was on how to give fresh impetus to the Afghan reconciliation process, which is believed to have been making little headway because of mistrust among the key players.
A statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed that the two sides discussed efforts to seek a peaceful end to the Afghan conflict.
“The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest with particular focus on Afghanistan reconciliation process,” the statement added without elaborating.
However, the official, who asked not to be named, told The Express Tribune that both Pakistan and the United States were willing to expedite efforts for a peace deal in Afghanistan.
He said the issue of Afghan Taliban releases and Qatar process also came up for discussion. The two countries agreed that future releases of Taliban prisoners, currently in Pakistan’s custody, must be done through better coordination.
“All sides will have to ensure that freed Taliban prisoners must become part of the reconciliation process,” the official revealed.
The US side appreciated Pakistani steps to facilitate the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, he added.
The official maintained that Pakistan conveyed to the US that Islamabad was ready to reengage Kabul on the issue of Taliban releases. “But the Afghanistan government is reluctant to discuss the issue,” he said.
The release of Taliban prisoners has been suspended indefinitely due to strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kabul has accused Islamabad of sabotaging peace efforts. Pakistan has denied the charge saying it remained committed to the reconciliation process.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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guys in 1976 Pakistan supported afghan Taliban. the main thing is central Asia that is neighbor of Afghanistan. central Asia is very rich in oil and gas as u all know so most of the countries want to control it that include America. in the incident of the 9/11 America got the chance to get closer the central Asia and that time in 2001 they said Pakistan either support us or support the terrorist and our so called pak supported America and gave it the reason national interest..now as America know no use of it so it wants to go back but by leaving its forces in the Afghanistan in the country and Afghanistan is not accepting their condition that is justified. this is dialogue that held between both parties in Qatar but failed but still i can be successfully done if Pakistan talk to both the parties. Pakistan economy is linked with the prosper economy of Afghanistan.
I guess that we all are directly or indirectly just defending our countries if u guys make a link than u can understand it very clearly. Pakistan was the one who who supported Afghan taliban in 1976. his is the time when the came into being.
@Ahmed41
I don't know if you are Pakistani, Indian or Afghan but I know one thing that you are a humanist and your comments prove that you respect the brotherhood of man regardless of race, color and creed. My faith in humanity is restored whenever I read comments that are objective, unbiased, realistic and devoid of petty nationalist rhetoric.
"Why not take steps ENSURE that Pakistan too has a deep, sincere stake in the uplift of this landlocked country. They have had 30+ years of war and chaos.
It will help the entire region !!!!!!".
Pakistan will be the loser in the scheme of things if it does not change its wicked ways and Afghanistan will move forward and become a stable and prosperous nation with or without Pakistan's help.
@PakistaniFirst
Why does Pakistan have an army and nuclear bombs and why would US follow Pakistan's advice? Pakistan is in no position to advise anyone. Afghanistan is a sovereign nation and has been around since 1747, long before Jinnah and Iqbal had their Martin Luther King moment, "I have a dream". Afghanistan needs an army because it has two hostile neighbors, ruled by retarded Mullahs.
If there is no peace in Afghanistan you can bet that there will be no peace in the land of the pure. Some Afghans are foaming at the mouth happily awaiting the prospect of mayhem and murder.
@Saqib: SAQIB sahib,
The history of Afghanistan has to be looked at OBJECTIVELY
Before the days when the US & the West took any interest, Afghanistan had a very close, helpful friend. That was Turkey. Next came the US-USSR rivalry for control of regions far away from the centers of their real influence. Due to this capitalist-vs-communist pressure, Afghans shifted to the USSR as their best friend. Now the USSR is no more and the COLD WAR has disappeared. The Taliban are so far , gone , due to the events of the past 12 years.
Now the US and the WEST is Afghanistan's best friend because the Afghans want capital investment in development. China & India are therefore ,also, friends of the Afghans.
Why not take steps ENSURE that Pakistan too has a deep, sincere stake in the uplift of this landlocked country. They have had 30+ years of war and chaos.
It will help the entire region !!!!!!
Why US/NATO is developing Afghan Army? They only need police. If US is not following our advice, there will be no peace in Afghanistan.
I am from Pakistan, and I know that if world give us 1000 years we Pakistanis and Afghanis won't be able to fix our disputes. Plus its not just about fixation. USA is also developing Afghanistan. I think most of the Afghanis like it. Finally there is someone who is actually contributing to their home country.
@Raj - USA: Rightly said, but the level of corruption, mistrust and outside influence on both sides necessitates an arbitrator.
mr kiani, cant we recongnize afghanistan as "out of bound" ? plz sir, its enough
Janan, we Afghans can say the same about your country but God has made us neighbours, so deal with it. Curse Gen Zia for taking billions of dollars for allowing Refugees and building the A bomb with it.
Pakistan and Afghanistan should talk to each other directly, without any intermediaries with honest intentions. Agreements brokered by 3rd parties, be is USA or KSA will not last long.
i am fed up with afghans and their peace process.