ISLAMABAD: The US special envoy for Afghan reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, called the Prime Minister, Imran Khan, on Monday, while efforts to reactivate the peace negotiations between the United States and the Taliban gained momentum.
Amb Khalilzad, who is here for the second time in a month, is also expected to meet with senior civil and military officials to discuss the latest developments related to peace talks.
The prime minister told the visiting diplomat that, as a sincere facilitator and friend, Pakistan was still willing to do everything possible in its capacity, as part of a shared responsibility, for the early conclusion of the peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban.
He reiterated Pakistan's firm and sincere support for the Afghan peace and reconciliation process and stressed the need to overcome difficulties so that a lasting political solution to the Afghan conflict can be achieved as soon as possible.
He stressed that it was important that all parties take practical measures to reduce violence in Afghanistan. He further stressed that it was equally important to protect against negative narratives and the efforts of any party to undermine the progress made so far through thorough efforts.
"Achieving sustainable peace and security and ensuring long-term development, progress and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region is in the best interest of Pakistan's national interest," the prime minister told Amb Khalilzad.
During his last trip earlier this month, Amb Khalilzad had held secret talks with a delegation from the Taliban political office based in Qatar on the resumption of his negotiations that were interrupted in September following an attack in Kabul in which a American soldier .
The two sides were close to signing an agreement when President Trump, through a tweet, announced the end of all contacts with the Taliban and canceled a previously unannounced meeting with President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban leaders.
The United States special envoy, before arriving in Islamabad on the last visit, visited Kabul where he informed President Ghani, Executive President Abdullah Abdullah and other Afghan leaders about recent activities to revive the negotiations.
Earlier last week he attended quadrilateral talks with diplomats from Pakistan, China and Russia in Moscow. One of the key objectives of the Moscow meeting was to review the stalemate in the peace process since the dialogue between the United States and the Taliban was interrupted.
The statement issued from Moscow said: "Russia, China and Pakistan expressed their support for the prompt resumption of the negotiation process and to reach an agreement between the United States of America and the Taliban movement, which will pave the way for initiating intra-Afghan talks." . . "
The four countries at their Moscow meeting also "urged all parties to immediately reduce violence" to create "an environment conducive to negotiations."
Posted on Dawn, October 29, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1513493/khalilzad-pm-discuss-efforts-for-peace-in-afghanistan