Afghan envoy requests Samiul Haq to support peace process with Taliban

NOWSHERA/ ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Mosazai called on Maulana Samiul Haq on Saturday and requested him to raise his voice for the dialogue process between Kabul and the Afghan Taliban.


Mosazai called on Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, known as the ‘father of the Taliban’, at the latter’s residence in Akora Khattak, Nowshera, days after he and thousands of his seminary declared allegiance to the Taliban new chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.

1. Met with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq at his Jamia Haqqania in Akora Khattak 2day. Told him about Afghanistan's all-out sincere peace efforts.

— Janan Mosazai (@JananMosazai) August 8, 2015

It was the first ever meeting of Maulana Sami with any high ranking Afghan diplomat since 9/11.

"Ulema can play a key role in peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan," Mosazi told reporters after the meeting.

Maulana Sami, who also runs popular seminary Darul Uloom Haqqania Akora Khattak, had chaired a meeting of leading Afghan and Pakistani ulema, as well as delegations of Afghan Taliban, on Thursday.

They had sworn allegiance to Mullah Mansoor, the successor of Mullah Omar, whose election has ostensibly fragmented the Afghan Taliban.

The meeting between the two continued for about two hours, and according to the Afghan consul general, they discussed in detail matters pertaining to the current situation of Afghanistan.

A spokesman for Sami's “Jamia Haqqania” said the Afghan ambassador had a detailed one-on-one meeting with the JUI-S leader on "Afghanistan's current difficulties."

Mosazai said on his official Twitter, "Met with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq at his Jamia Haqqania in Akora Khattak 2day. Told him about Afghanistan's all-out sincere peace efforts."

Saying Afghanistan has entered at a critical juncture after the death of Mullah Omar, Maulana Sami urged Afghan, Pakistani rulers and the Taliban to "demonstrate seriousness."

Read: Afghan clerics likely to issue ruling soon

“We are satisfied with the assurances of Maulana Samiul Haq regarding his role in resuming the dialogue process between the Afghan government and Afghan Taliban,” the Peshawar-based Afghan diplomat said.

“Maulana Samiul Haq agreed to help bringing a negotiated solution to the Afghan conflict,” said a spokesperson of Darul Uloom Haqqania. “He has shown concern over splits among the ranks of Afghan Taliban.”

Mosazai briefed Maulana Sami on the Afghan government’s reconciliation policies, which are aimed at making all rival and resistance groups part of the continuing political process.

He said Pakistan and its ulema could play a key role in making effective the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, and hence, requested him to come forward.

Read: Internal rifts put talks on the back burner

Maulana Haq told the Afghan ambassador that he had advised Taliban representatives to show unity, said the spokesperson, adding that in this respect, he offered services for mediation and reconciliation among the rival groups.

“Maulana believes Afghans could foil international conspiracies by forging unity amongst their ranks,” the spokesperson added.

Saying Afghanistan had entered a critical juncture after the death of Mullah Omar, Maulana Sami urged Afghan, Pakistani rulers and the Taliban to "demonstrate seriousness."

"All the three should first get rid of foreign forces as we cannot achieve any success in the presence of the foreign domination," he said.

Following the death of Mullah Omar and election of their new leader, the Taliban are struggling to overcome internal rifts following the election of their new leader. However, they have not completely rejected the political option even as armed resistance continues simultaneously.

Correction: An earlier version of this story had said the Afghan envoy requested Maulana Sami to facilitate the peace process.