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25-08-2020
By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies
ISLAMABAD/ KABUL/ WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with a Taliban Political Commission (TPC) delegation on Tuesday, warned of “spoilers who did not wish to see return of peace in the region”.
The TPC delegation was headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and was welcomed by the foreign minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
“During the meeting, views were exchanged on the current status of the Afghan peace process and the way forward,” a post-meeting statement by the Foreign Office said.
During the exchange, Qureshi underscored Prime Minister Imran Khan’s consistent stance that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a political settlement was the only way forward.
“Highlighting Pakistan’s positive contribution to the peace and reconciliation process, culminating in the US-Taliban Peace Agreement in Doha on 29 February 2020, the foreign minister underlined that this historic opportunity must be seized by the Afghan stakeholders to secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive negotiated political solution,” read the statement.
According to the statement the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s “commitment to a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan.”
He emphasized the need for the US-Taliban agreement to be realised in its entirety “paving the way for the earliest possible commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations”.
Qureshi told the delegation that for its part “Pakistan will continue to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond”.
The foreign minister noted that the two countries have long-standing ties based on amity, shared history and geography and conveyed Pakistan abiding solidarity with the brotherly people of Afghanistan.
He called upon the international community to “enhance its engagement for reconstruction and economic development of Afghanistan”.
“The foreign minister also underscored the need for creating economic opportunities and an environment conducive for return of Afghan refugees to their homeland with dignity and honour,” the statement said.
Baradar, according to the statement, thanked Qureshi for the invitation and “affirmed support for efforts for peace, security and development in Afghanistan”.
The delegation also thanked the government and people of Pakistan “for their consistent support to the people of Afghanistan, including for graciously hosting Afghan refugees for over four decades”.
This was the third meeting with the Afghan Taliban delegation. Previously, the two sides met in October 2019 at the Foreign Office and in Doha in February this year.
Delegation arrives
The delegation arrived in Islamabad at the invitation of the Pakistani leadership on Monday.
The aim was to discuss the recent developments in Afghanistan’s peace process, relaxation and facilitation of people’s movement and trade between the two neighboring countries, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen had confirmed on Sunday in a tweet.
Qureshi while addressing a press conference on Monday had said that the Pakistani leadership would have a round of talks with the delegation as part of its efforts aimed at [building] mutual confidence.
The foreign minister had added that Islamabad had invited the Taliban to Pakistan to stress the importance of talks, adding that negotiations were the “the only way forward” in Afghanistan.
“This is for Afghans to reconcile, and our task is that of the facilitator,” he said. “The main objective is to secure peace and the next phase should be the start of the intra-Afghan dialogue.”
The delegation is also expected to meet with the country’s civilian and military leadership, a senior official of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had informed foreign media on condition of anonymity, sources reported.
Pakistan is seen as a key regional player in helping facilitate a February troop withdrawal deal between the United States and the Taliban to begin the process of ending 18 years of war. The agreement was intended to quickly lead to talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government but became mired in delays.
‘Danger to the world’ Taliban prisoners being released
Prospects of peace in Afghanistan after 19 long years of war brightened earlier this month when Kabul started releasing 400 Taliban prisoners who were described by President Ashraf Ghani as a “danger to the world.”
Earlier, a group of 80 prisoners was released, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, Javid Faisal had said, adding that it would “speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire”.
The release of the 400 militants was approved by the Loya Jirga, a gathering of thousands of prominent Afghans called by Ghani after the authorities initially refused to free militants.
The prisoners include some 44 insurgents of particular concern to the United States and other countries for their role in high-profile attacks.
