Peace process: Fazl assures Karzai of bringing Taliban to talks

Taliban call JUI-F chief’s visit an exercise in futility.

ISLAMABAD:

The Afghan government-backed peace council said on Saturday it has requested Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to help bring the Taliban to the negotiation table.

“Maulana Fazlur Rehman has assured of his cooperation in the peace process and political dialogue,” spokesman for the council, Maulvi Shehzada Shehzad told The Express Tribune from Kabul by the phone.

Fazl started his three-day visit to Afghanistan on the invitation of President Hamid Karzai and both leaders underscored the need for cooperation of the two countries against terrorism, Karzai’s office said.

The Afghan president had missed meeting with the JUI-F chief during his recent visit to Pakistan and later invited him to visit Kabul.

Afghan Taliban have expressed resentment over Fazl’s visit on Karzai’s invitation. A Taliban leader in a telephonic call described JUI-F chief’s tour as a futile exercise.



Requesting not to be identified, the Taliban leader said such visits are used by the US-backed regime for political gains and create doubts in Taliban ranks.

Fazl meets peace council

Fazl received a delegation of the Afghan High Peace Council at his hotel in Kabul and both sides discussed the role of the JUI-F leader and the religious leaders.

The peace council delegation, led by Abdul Hakim Mujahid, deputy of the peace council, consisted of several senior members including Asadullah Wafa, Attaullah Ludin and Masoom Stanakzai.

The council chief’s Salahuddin Rabbani was in Turkey and could not attend the meeting, the council’s spokesman said.

Members of the Afghan scholars’ council, headed by Maulvi Qayyamuddin Kaashaf, also met the JUI-F chief and discussed the role of religious scholars in the elusive peace.

Karzai hosts luncheon

President Karzai hosted a sumptuous luncheon in honour of the JUI-F’s five-member delegation at Presidential palace. The luncheon was attended by senior Afghan government officials, members of the peace council, ministers and lawmakers.

Some Pakistani government officials are also accompanying Fazl whose visit, the first in past 12 years, has raised questions as to why he accepted the invitation of Karzai who has just a few more months to rule and the Taliban were adamant not to talk to the Kabul administration.

The peace council however is hopeful that Fazl can play an important role in the Afghan reconciliation process. “The visit was important as we believe that Maulana Fazal has deep influence and can cooperate,” the peace council’s spokesman said. An Afghan official, who attended Karzai’s luncheon for JUI-F delegation, said Fazl assured Karzai that he will make efforts for reconciliation between the Taliban and the US-backed Afghan regime.

Taliban’s reaction

Taliban said Fazl’s visit would not affect their firm stand of not talking to Karzai’s government. A Taliban source in Qatar process said Saturday that the Taliban leaders view such visits as a move to harm their own plans.

“When we want to find out solution to other problems, other developments like Fazl’s visit, is masterminded to weaken our initiatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2013.