Pakistan can facilitate Afghan peace process: Aziz
An opportunity to improve Pak-Afghan ties exists
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan can fmoothen reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan but it cannot force the Taliban to join the peace process, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Friday.
“No one can force them [the Taliban]… Afghanistan will have to take the initiative itself as to how, with whom and on what basis it wants to talk,” Aziz told a group of media persons from Afghanistan after his meeting with President Ashraf Ghani.
“We and other outsiders cannot force anyone… we can only facilitate the peace process,” he said. “The whole world wants to see peace in Afghanistan and we will do whatever we can.”
Talking about possible venues for peace talks, Aziz said they could be held in Qatar, Turkey or even in China “since Beijing is also keen on playing a role.”
“There was consensus on one issue in Beijing and that was to help [in restoring] peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he said. “But Afghanistan will decide where and with whom it wants to hold talks, and who will help it with the process.”
“As Pakistan is also part of this process, we will do whatever we can. Peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s security interest,” he added.
Aziz noted that an opportunity to improve Pak-Afghan ties existed. “There is a new beginning [for the Pak-Afghan relationship]… President Ghani himself said he wants to make a perspective [on ties] for the next five years.” Aziz said there would be multi-dimensional cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Concerned quarters in both countries have prepared a comprehensive programme for economic cooperation, he added. “We will also boost security cooperation and people-to-people contacts.”
He added that Pakistan wanted to improve border security to facilitate the military operation in North Waziristan, which will improve the overall security situation in the region.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2014.
Pakistan can fmoothen reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan but it cannot force the Taliban to join the peace process, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Friday.
“No one can force them [the Taliban]… Afghanistan will have to take the initiative itself as to how, with whom and on what basis it wants to talk,” Aziz told a group of media persons from Afghanistan after his meeting with President Ashraf Ghani.
“We and other outsiders cannot force anyone… we can only facilitate the peace process,” he said. “The whole world wants to see peace in Afghanistan and we will do whatever we can.”
Talking about possible venues for peace talks, Aziz said they could be held in Qatar, Turkey or even in China “since Beijing is also keen on playing a role.”
“There was consensus on one issue in Beijing and that was to help [in restoring] peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he said. “But Afghanistan will decide where and with whom it wants to hold talks, and who will help it with the process.”
“As Pakistan is also part of this process, we will do whatever we can. Peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s security interest,” he added.
Aziz noted that an opportunity to improve Pak-Afghan ties existed. “There is a new beginning [for the Pak-Afghan relationship]… President Ghani himself said he wants to make a perspective [on ties] for the next five years.” Aziz said there would be multi-dimensional cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Concerned quarters in both countries have prepared a comprehensive programme for economic cooperation, he added. “We will also boost security cooperation and people-to-people contacts.”
He added that Pakistan wanted to improve border security to facilitate the military operation in North Waziristan, which will improve the overall security situation in the region.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2014.