The head of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation, Dr Abdulah Abdullah, is expected to visit Pakistan later this month, as part of efforts to further Afghan peace process and seek a peaceful end to the 19 year long war in Afghanistan, official sources confirmed to Tribune.
Prime Minister Imran Khan invited Abdullah to discuss Pak-Afghan ties along with the ongoing peace efforts. This meeting is going to be the first high-level meeting from Afghanistan in many months, facilitating the strengthening of ties between the two countries. afghan peace process
Sources confirmed that Abdullah will visit Pakistan in late September and will meet military leadership also, along with the Premier.
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Talks between the Afghan government and Taliban afghan peace process
His visit comes at a time when efforts are being made to evolve consensus among Afghan groups, including Taliban, for the future political dispensation. After much delay, the inaugural ceremony of intra-Afghan dialogue was held recently in Doha. However, the formal talks between the Afghan government and Taliban have yet to start.
The latest phase of Afghan peace process is crucial in determining the political scenario in Afghanistan. There is a tussel as Taliban want to adopt a more theocratic way of governance while the political groups of Afghanistan advocate for a democratic set up where fundamental rights of vulnerable groups such as women and children are guaranteed.
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Taliban, however, have shown willingness to accommodate the concerns of other groups as some of their leaders claim that the insurgent group learnt lessons from their past mistakes. The process, nevertheless, will not be easy as some observers believe that Taliban have the upper hand given their military strength and the areas they control at the moment.
Pakistan facilitated US-Taliban peace agreement
Speaking at the weekly briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that at the opening ceremony of intra-Afghan negotiations in Qatar, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that the world had begun acknowledging Pakistan’s position that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. afghan peace process
The foreign minister, according to the Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, also said that Pakistan had fully facilitated the process that culminated in the US-Taliban Peace Agreement in Doha in February 2020 and had reached the critical juncture.
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“It was now for the Afghan leaders to seize this historic opportunity, work together constructively, and secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement, leading to durable peace in Afghanistan,” Chaudhri said.
He added that Pakistan hoped that all sides would honour their respective commitments, persevere in the face of all challenges and setbacks, and remain resolutely committed to achieving a positive outcome. “Pakistan will always support a peaceful, stable, united, democratic, prosperous and sovereign Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours.” afghan peace process