World

Afghan peace deal: Islamabad, Beijing ready to become ‘guarantors’

Officials say Pakistan has no problem in playing role beyond that of a facilitator

Kamran Yousaf July 22, 2015

Officials say Pakistan has no problem in playing role beyond that of a facilitator. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are ready to become ‘guarantors’ of a possible peace deal between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban, officials familiar with the development have said.

“We are ready to go the extra mile. We are even willing to become guarantors for any peace agreement,” said a senior Pakistani official, who requested not to be named because of sensitivity of the issue.

The official said Pakistan has been facilitating Afghan led and Afghan owned peace talks. “But if talks make progress and all sides agree, then Pakistan has no problem in playing its role beyond that of a facilitator,” he said.

Pakistan recently hosted the first-ever direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives at the popular tourist resort of Murree as part of its efforts to put an end to over a decade-old conflict in the war-torn country. Senior officials from Pakistan, China and the United States also attended the closed-door talks suggesting that the Murree process had the backing of all major international players.

During the talks, the Afghan side demanded immediate ceasefire from the Afghan Taliban. However, the Taliban reportedly agreed to cease fire if Islamabad and Beijing become ‘guarantors’ to ensure that a ‘United National Government’ will be formed in Afghanistan. Another official said China is also ready to provide guarantees if all the negotiating parties accept this arrangement. Following the Murree talks, China had hinted at playing a more proactive role in brokering a peace deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

A statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing was ready to work with relevant parties and play a constructive role in achieving broad and inclusive peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

The next round of talks is expected to take place in China later this month. As a result of forward movement in Murree talks, the next phase of negotiations will be led by the Afghan foreign minister.

The two sides are expected to discuss substantive issues in the next round as a result of the recent endorsement of the peace process by Afghan Taliban’s supreme leader Mullah Omar.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2015.

COMMENTS (26)

Guru | 9 years ago | Reply @Gurion: awesome reply!!!!

Gurion | 9 years ago | Reply For the entire of next five years, I guarantee the safety of planet Mars. Dear Lord! I suddenly feel so powerful and influential!!

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Virkaul | 9 years ago | Reply A guarantor needs to have some credibility. Hasn't it been my way or no way?

sam | 9 years ago | Reply @Wrap-It-Up fast!: Indian economy is growing faster than China & 1.5 times faster than Pakistan. Muslim makes 15% of Indian population up from 7 % in 1947. So called conversion involved 10 bangladeshi illegal settlers who wanted Indian card for changing religion.

Cool Henry | 9 years ago | Reply It would indeed be good if peace can prevail in Afghanistan. But, if past behavior is any indicator, China and Pakistan are unreliable and untrustworthy. Since there's vested interest of China in the economic domain, there's a chance Chinese would indeed try to be fair and trustworthy. That in turn may also force Pakistanis to not resort to it's usual tricks (strategic depth to degrade India).

shiraz | 9 years ago | Reply @Alaap "Allap" also stands for blabbering.

bubba5 | 9 years ago | Reply Rubbish. It should also be obvious that neither country has the leverage to enforce anything in Afghanistan. It should also be obvious that most Afghan's view Pakistan as an enemy - and the promise of China money doesn't carry the same weight as actual money from the USA.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Anybody with a functioning mind would and should know that because of the long, porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the security of the two countries is interlinked, and that the Chinese would work in Afghanistan only if peaceful conditions prevail. Also, the following paragraph in the report supports my point of view: "Pakistan recently hosted the first-ever direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives at the popular tourist resort of Murree as part of its efforts to put an end to over a decade-old conflict in the war-torn country. Senior officials from Pakistan, China and the United States also attended the closed-door talks suggesting that the Murree process had the backing of all major international players." Your choice of words is poor and displays mentality of a person who is too sure of himself, and for no good reason.

Professor | 9 years ago | Reply The Soviets killed over 1,000,000 Taliban and they still kept coming. The Russians lost 20,000 and they went packing. Taliban are not capable of winning wars, they just outlast their opponents. The same is happening with Islamic State. The Americans alone claim that they have killed over 10,000 terrorists by bombings and drones in a year of operations. Yet, they are still there.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply @S.R.H. Hashmi: After a long time, Afghans are being offered a choice where they are free to opt for peace and prosperity or needless killing and misery. I hope they choose wisely. What a load of crap you have put out in your narrative! The Afghans regard Pakistan as much a foreign country as the USA. Pakistan is well advised to mind its own business and not pretend to have a role of a facilitator. The Afghan Government has alreadyx Minor signed a contract for chinese mining for copper. Rex Minor

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply It is good to learn that Pakistan has finally abandoned the dream of having a client government in Afghanistan with a view to gaining strategic depth. Several factors have caused this change of thinking, and the most dominant of which would be the return of bulk of foreign forces – mostly American –during the massive presence of which right next door, Pakistan was not sure of their intentions. There were incessant expressions of concern about the security of our nuclear assets, and pans were reported to have been made to take these over to prevent their falling into the hands of Taliban, whose grip in Afghanistan as well as Pakistan was increasing. There were also map-change plans for the Muslim countries which had already been successfully implemented in the Middle and were waiting to be enforced in Pakistan, like seeking an independent state status for Balochistan and creation of Greater Pashtonistan by merging Pakistan’s tribal areas with Afghanistan. In the US plans to contain China, obviously Greater Pashtonistan could have proved to be a valuable asset for the US which could keep a massive military presence there. However, due to bitter opposition from American public to sending of large number of US troops abroad, and with the coming to power of Barack Obama with a different line of thinking, the US seems to have abandoned its map-change and other intentions in our region. And in view of this changed scenario, our government has revised its plans and instead of looking for strategic depth, it now sees an independent, stable Afghanistan to be in the best interest of Pakistan. It is therefore heartening to know that Pakistan is playing a sincere and useful role by facilitating negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban, which effort also has the support of China and United States. And for a change, after endless, needless and useless struggle, Taliban also seem to be in favour of a settlement. And going a step further Pakistan, along with china, is also prepared to guarantee any peace settlement which could come about as a result of negotiations between Afghan government and Taliban. With no clear, overall winners emerging, Afghanistan has seen no peace for decades, and this has been in the interest of no one. It is therefore time to re-build the country and have some peace, which is an essential pre-requisite to prosperity. It is really a shame to see a country like Afghanistan, which is rich in minerals, subjected to extreme poverty simply because it is unable to make use of the immense wealth which lies buried in its soil. Luckily, China is right next door, and has the necessary expertise as well as ample funds to exploit these mineral resources, which could transform Afghanistan from a state of abject poverty to a fair degree of peace and prosperity, with promise of further improvement with each passing day. After a long time, Afghans are being offered a choice where they are free to opt for peace and prosperity or needless killing and misery. I hope they choose wisely. And for a change, our government officials seem to be doing something commendable, so le us not be mean, and give credit where it is due. Karachi

LOL | 9 years ago | Reply @writer: Yes, i checked international news about India. The most famous recently is all the world making fun of Indian security forces for arresting a pigeon, just google it. Oh and yes, there is also one where Jimmy Kimmel made a song about Indians getting 1 Rupee everytime they use public toilet. The video is available on Youtube on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Please enjoy, it is really funny and shows exactly how much the world 'respects' you.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply The Talibans do not negotiate nor enter into any deals per say but have a straight demand of foreign troops withdrawl from their land! They themselves are the guarantors and will cease their activities against the Afghan army as soon as the foreigners in khaki have left. Those who use the Afghan highways must pay a levie for free passage to the adjoining tribes. Rex Minor

writer | 9 years ago | Reply @LOL: and about being a superpower we are certainly on the road to becoming so If you don't believe us, watch the WORLD NEWS (of all developed countries) about India. They say it too! But they certainly don't mention India as a "FAILED STATE" about Pakistan.... I think you should really watch those World news!

writer | 9 years ago | Reply @Liberal: hahahahahahahaha You think we provide funds to Taliban? Do you know that the terror attacks in India that are not organised by Pak govt are organised by Taliban? You seriously need to get some REAL education.

writer | 9 years ago | Reply @LOL: I didn’t write ‘no role for India in negotiations’, i wrote ‘no role for India in the matters of this region’. And the matter is about negotiating with terrorists!! That's called coming to the main point!!! Instead of circumlocution, I cut to the chase and came to the main point viz negotiating with terrorists! and about democracy- I am really sure that you don't even read your own comments! (which is to say you don't take your own words seriously) I mentioned Democracy because YOU SAID that we consider Modi as our king! I did not bring it up, YOU DID. You seem really confused as to what you want to assert. I completely understand that, since you must be really confused as to who is leading your country in the first place!

Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply @Writer: Yet you like giving them funds to create turbulence in Pakistan.

LOL | 9 years ago | Reply @Writer: I didn't write 'no role for India in negotiations', i wrote 'no role for India in the matters of this region'. But sure, you Indians only know to speak and shout and not listen or understand. my point was that you should come out of 'India is next superpower' delusion. but you found a good excuse to keep on living in denial by bringing democracy democracy slogan as always.

Shuaib | 9 years ago | Reply @stop being so insecure: @Maxx: You two can't see the guy is Indian and making fun of Pakistan?

Writer | 9 years ago | Reply @LOL: Getting involved in a peace treaty with Taliban?? No sorry! We don't negotiate with terrorists!! And unlike Pakistan, we don't consider anyone our king!! We have democracy! Look it up It's a really nice way of living Try to achieve democracy (in at least a 50 years) if possible

Afghan Maihan | 9 years ago | Reply Facilitator and guarantor of continuous mayhem in Afghanistan by disrupting the status quo for its own agenda and sociopolitical goals in Afghanistan. Afghans cannot afford to include regressive elements in the political dispensation of Afghanistan that seek to undermine the liberal and progressive trajectory and national interests of Afghanistan. The Taliban will have to accept the constitution of Afghanistan and realize that their brand of Islam and governance is an anachronism to the ground realities of Afghanistan. Lasting peace in Afghanistan can only be realized through real democracy and not through coercion and manipulation by external forces. The Taliban can never win through participatory democracy.

Alaap | 9 years ago | Reply While Pakistan's guarantee would mean nothing, Chinese guarantee might be different. Pakistan dare not play games with the Chinese - they're the only friend left - like N.Korea.

LOL | 9 years ago | Reply no role for 'superpower' India even in the matters of this region ? and they consider Modi the King of the world. LOOOOL

stop being so insecure | 9 years ago | Reply @Wrap-It-Up fast!: Seriously??? Do you guys think anything else than destroying India ? Forced conversion of minorities??? What about the minorities in Pakistan (if there are any left)? Just look it up What is done to minorities in Pakistan?? And how they are forced to eat non-vegetarian food!!! Get out of your bubble!!

Maxx | 9 years ago | Reply Magnificent delusions! ^^^

Wrap-It-Up fast! | 9 years ago | Reply We must proceed with surety and confidence in the absence of India, who got its handful with spiraling down economy and booming poor population, along with forced-conversion of minorities and implementing their diet of vegetarianism on them. Iran also is tired of Indian false promises and low-quality work. If there was any opportunity for foes to become friends on our western border...THIS IS IT!

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