News
Monday, August 20, 2012
Pak-Afghan talks on reconciliation process after EidISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Afghan officials are making arrangements for discussion on peace process in Afghanistan as well as bilateral issues between the two countries after Eidul Fitr, officials said on Sunday. Afghan embassy spokesman Zardasht Shams told Daily Times that Kabul is ready for talks, and top Afghan peace negotiator, Salahuddin Rabbani, will visit Pakistan after Eid for consultation on Afghanistan’s reconciliation process and Pakistan’s role in it. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Afghanistan’s ambassador in Pakistan had already called upon Pakistan to facilitate talks with the Taliban, who have refused dialogue with the administration in Kabul. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has said that Pakistan would do what it can for reconciliation in Afghanistan. The Pakistani government has also appealed to all the warring groups in Afghanistan, including Taliban, to support peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan told Daily Times that the visit of head of Afghan High Peace Council, Salahuddin Rabbani, was due and he would visit Pakistan soon. The diplomatic sources said that points like enhancing role of Pak-Afghan Joint Peace Commission, and formation of Pak-Afghan joint commission, which is to be formed for peace talks with Taliban and the reconciliation process are on the agenda that Rabbani would discuss with Pakistani officials. Initial work on the joint peace commission was completed earlier but confusion arose after assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, father of Salahuddin and former head of Afghan High Peace Council. Now the two countries want to go ahead with the joint peace council, the sources said. Sources in Afghan embassy said that Rabbani would hold a meeting with top military and civil officials in Pakistan. He is expected to meet the prime minister, president, and foreign minister. He was ready to visit Pakistan before Eid but Pakistani side was not prepared due to some domestic issues, the sources further informed. The reconciliation process in Afghanistan has become a headache for the Afghan government and international community as the Taliban are ready to hold talks with the US but clearly refuse negotiations with Kabul as they see the Karzai government as a puppet. However, Afghan sources said that with the announcement of the withdrawal of NATO in 2014, Taliban have started loosing support in Afghan society. imdad hussain
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk