The Pashtun Times Latest News
The Pakistani authorities have said they support an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process as fresh reports emerged regarding the latest secret talks between the Afghan officials and Taliban group representatives in Qatar.
“It has been our consistent position that politically negotiated settlement is vital for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Nafees Zakaria, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan believes that all efforts should be made towards a sustainable peace settlement through an Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process.
Zakaria further added “In our view, QCG is an appropriate forum in which Pakistan is ready to play its role. We will continue with our efforts in facilitating the peace process towards a lasting settlement in collaboration with the Afghan Government.”
The Afghan government gave up efforts in the format of QCG comprising of representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the United States after the group failed to pursue the Taliban group to revive direct peace talks.
The Afghan officials said the QCG participants agreed to take actions against the militant groups pursuing violence, emphasizing that Pakistan failed to take any action against the Taliban group leadership based in the country.
The officials have long been criticizing Pakistan for remaining reckless to act against the leadership councils of the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network which they insist are based in Quetta and Peshawar cities of Pakistan. -KP
THE PASHTUN TIMES
