Pakistan has some influence on Taliban but no control over them: Aziz

Premier's top aide says Pakistan and US want resumption of talks between govt in Kabul and Afghan Taliban

Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday Pakistan has some influence on Taliban but it had no control over them.

“It was up to the Afghan government to resume talks with Taliban and our job is just of a facilitator, Aziz said, according to Radio Pakistan.

The premier’s top aide reiterated that both the United States and Pakistan fully supported the Afghan reconciliation process. “The international community has concerns about the Afghan issue and no world power wants war in Afghanistan. Pakistan and the US want resumption of talks between the Afghan government and Taliban,” he said.



However, he also added it was up to the Afghan government to decide whether they wanted the same or not. “The Afghan government has not yet approached Pakistan regarding contacts with Taliban,” Aziz said.

He also maintained that Pakistan's stance was very clear that its soil would not be used against any country.

Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership concurred on Tuesday that ‘willingness and seriousness’ of the Afghan government is necessary for the resumption of the peace talks stalled by the confirmation of death of Afghan Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar earlier this year.



However, Afghanistan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah has said he has suspicions over Pakistan’s role in the peace process after PM Nawaz Sharif’s ‘refusal’ to act against Afghan Taliban.

He was commenting on the premier’s remarks that Pakistan could not bring Taliban to the negotiating table “and be asked to kill them at the same time.”

“We heard Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif clearly on fight and peace talks with Taliban. If Pakistan cannot fight insurgency, we cannot trust they would not support insurgents,” he said while addressing Afghan Council of Ministers on Tuesday. “We are not sure they will encourage the Taliban to peace.”