July 31, 2015
News
US lauds Pakistan's role in Afghan peace process
Spokesman says peace process as ‘moment of opportunity’ for Taliban to rebuild their lives, peace in Afghan
APPWASHINGTON – Appreciating Pakistan's constructive role in the Afghan reconciliation process, a US State Department spokesman encouraged the Taliban to seize a ‘moment of opportunity’ to make genuine peace and become part of the legitimate political system of Afghanistan.
To a question at a daily briefing, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said that Pakistan has played a helpful role in the reconciliation process and the United States wants to see it to continue play their constructive role. He described the process as a ‘clearly a moment of opportunity' and encouraged the Taliban use this to make genuine peace with the Afghan government and to rebuild their lives and peace in Afghanistan.
“They can accept the government of Afghanistan's invitation to join the peace process and ultimately become part of the legitimate political system of a sovereign, united Afghanistan supported by the international community,” he said. “It is clearly a moment of opportunity for them to really embrace this reconciliation process,” he said and added that time was ripe for the reconciliation process to move forward.
– Peace talks delayed –
The comments by the US State Department came after Pakistan announced to postpone the second round of the Afghan peace talks, scheduled to be held on Friday (July 31) in the backdrop of the reports regarding death of Taliban chief Mulla Omar and resulting uncertainty, and at the request of the Afghan Taliban leadership. The Afghan Taliban has chosen late supreme leader Mullah Omar’s longtime deputy to replace him, two militant commanders said on Thursday.
– Foreign Office statement –
In a statement issued in Islamabad, a Foreign Office spokesman said that Pakistan and other friendly countries of Afghanistan hope that the Taliban leadership would stay engaged in the process of peace talks in order to promote a lasting peace in Afghanistan. “It is further hoped that those forces, which due to their malafide intent wanted to undermine the peace talks, will not succeed in their designs,” the statement added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk