Efforts under way to resume Afghan peace talks, says Aziz

Adviser to PM on national security says announcement of Mullah Omar's death had caused the suspension of talks

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz informed the Senate on Tuesday that efforts were underway for resumption of reconciliation talks between Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul.

Aziz said the announcement of Mullah Omar's death had caused the suspension of talks.

He strongly rejected reports that Mullah Omar had died in Pakistan and termed them baseless.

"Mullah Omar's son Mullah Yaqoob had himself confirmed his father never left Afghanistan, nor did he die of tuberculosis and hepatitis or was buried in Pakistan," he said.

Read: Afghan Taliban feign ignorance over Sartaj Aziz's peace talks claim

Aziz said the news regarding former Afghan Taliban supremo's death was first released in Kabul on July 29 before the second round of Afghan peace talks, which was later confirmed by the President House in Kabul.

Last week, both Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to end a dangerous blame game over a spate of attacks and work to restore trust.

“The main thing that we both agreed upon was to restore trust, end the blame game against each other and create a positive atmosphere,” Aziz had said about his meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on his recent tour to neighbouring country.

The relationship between the two countries appeared to yield fruit in July with groundbreaking official peace talks with the militants. But after confirmation of Mullah Omar's death, the process was suspended and the Taliban launched a wave of attacks in Kabul, killing more than 50 people.

Aziz says no to 'conditional' meeting with India

Meanwhile, the NSA adviser has said Pakistan will not have a ‘conditional’ meeting with India during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“India only wants to talk terror and we want a discussion on all issues including Kashmir,” Aziz said in an interview with Hindustan Times.
His statement comes days before the premiers of two countries attend the key UN event this month.

When asked if a meeting between the two leaders was likely to take place, Aziz said, “Our position is very clear. India called off the NSA-level dialogue last month and the request for any meeting must come from you. India has to take the initiative.”