Page 15 - Pakistan Link - February 1, 2019

PAKISTAN FEBRUARY 1, 2019 – PAKISTAN LINK – P15
Taliban, US Publicly Admit ‘Progress Pakistan Deserves Credit for

on Vital Issues’ in Talks US-Taliban Peace Talks

numbers on all sides wounded and Multan: Foreign Minister Shah
maimed, many for life. Mehmood Qureshi has said that
Th e expense was also enormous. Pakistan deserves credit for the on-
Th e United States alone has going Afghan peace talks in Doha,
spent $932 billion since 2001 in Af- as the Taliban came to the negoti-
ghanistan; its allies and international ating table only due to Islamabad’s
agencies, many billions more. On incessant eff orts.
reconstruction aid alone, America Speaking to reporters in Mul-
spent more on Afghanistan than on tan on Sunday, the Foreign Minis-
the entire Marshall Plan to rebuild ter said Pakistan’s stance for a ne-
post-World War II Europe, in today’s gotiated settlement to the Afghan
dollars. confl ict had been vindicated.
Many policymakers — and most He said United States Senator
Americans — have long agreed that it Lindsay Graham had admitted that
is time to get out of Afghanistan and Islamabad had the right approach
hand matters over to the Afghans. Th e for peace in Afghanistan. “Th is is a nation with principles and pres-
question now is whether that will cost a milestone in Pakistan’s foreign tige. We are not beggars!” he said.
the Afghan government control over policy domain,” said Qureshi. “Nations do not only hold
the country. In his recent trip to Pakistan, talks to seek aid. We have strategies
The US representative was also satisfi ed with the progress in the talks. “Meetings here [in Graham pushed for a meeting be- and a vision that we will continue
Doha] were more productive than they have been in the past. We made signifi cant progress tween Prime Minister Imran Khan to pursue. Financial help is not im-
on vital issues,” Zalmay Khalilzad said in a series of tweets on microblogging site Twitter High Commissioner and US President Donald Trump portant; we are not seeking aid, we
Karachi: Th e longest, deadliest, and country’s Foreign Minister, for their to India Tipped to reset Pak-US relations and push are seeking peace.”
costliest war in the American history “constructive engagement and their for a peaceful settlement in Af- Highlighting the PTI-led
might be coming to an end as the Tali- facilitation of this round of talks”. for Top FO Slot ghanistan. government’s policy of global
ban and the US negotiators appear to Road map for peace in Afghani- Reiterating Pakistan’s desire outreach, the Foreign Minister
be edging towards a peace deal. stan: Earlier on Saturday, Reuters Islamabad: for peace in the region, the Foreign said it was unfortunate that peo-
In a rare development on Satur- news agency quoted Taliban sources High Com- Minister urged the public to gauge ple focused on the incoming aid
day, the two sides admitted “progress as saying that the Taliban negotia- missioner to Pakistan’s success by its achieve- and overlook the government’s
on vital issues” in their talks, albeit the tors and US offi cials have “fi nalized India Sohail ments on the foreign policy front, achievements on the diplomatic
insurgents said there was no agree- clauses to be included in a draft agree- M a h m ood and not by the aid it had received front.
ment on ceasefi re or talks with the Af- ment” to end the 17-year-old Afghan is the clear in aid. “Over the past few months,
ghan government, which they deride war. Details provided by the sources front runner Th e Foreign Minister was par- I went to Tehran, Beijing, Kabul,
as American puppet. included apparent concessions from to become ticularly irked when asked if im- Moscow and Doha. Very soon I am
US chief negotiator Zalmay both sides – with foreign forces to be the country’s proving ties meant the US would heading to Oman and then to Lon-
Khalilzad held negotiations with withdrawn from the country in 18 top diplomat restart discontinued aid. “We are don on February 3,” he informed.
Taliban representatives at their politi- months from the future signing of the when Foreign
cal offi ce in the Persian Gulf state of deal. S e cr et a r y Committee to Prepare Outline of
Qatar for six days, much longer than It is unclear whether the provi- Tehmina Janjua steps down on her
planned and longer than any previous sions have been fully accepted by the retirement. Model of Riyasat-e-Madina
attempt to end the bloody confl ict. US side. Ms Janjua, who was the fi rst
Subsequently, Khalilzad left the According to sources, the Taliban woman to become Pakistan’s foreign Islamabad: Ayaz had urged the government
Qatari capital of Doha for consulta- have off ered assurances that Afghani- secretary, will retire on April 17 aft er Council of to act on its promise for the for-
tions in Kabul. stan will not be allowed to be used by serving in the position for two years. Islamic Ide- mation of a ‘Medina State’ and
“Th is round of negotiations re- al Qaeda and Islamic State militants to Th e race for the Foreign Secre- ology (CII) suggested the formation of a task
volving around the withdrawal of attack the United States and its allies tary’s job this time round has been Chairman force to realize this goal.
foreign troops from Afghanistan and – a key early demand of Washington. lackluster particularly when com- Dr Qibla
other vital issues saw progress,” Tali- Th e Taliban said they will fi nalize a pared to the bruising competitions Ayaz has
ban spokesperson Zabihullah Muja- timeline for a ceasefi re in Afghanistan on the last two occasions — 2013 and said that Saudi Crown
hid said in a statement emailed to Th e but will only open talks with Afghan 2017. Th e last race was especially ugly a work-
Express Tribune Saturday night. representatives once the ceasefi re is because it ended with the resigna- ing group Prince to Visit
“But since issues of critical na- implemented. tion of former High Commissioner has been
ture need comprehensive discussions; “Since the United States started to India Abdul Basit, who was once f o r m e d Pakistan
therefore, it was decided that talks to engage the Taliban, this by far is the the Foreign Offi ce’s rising star. And to outline the basic features of
about unsolved matters will resume closest to a deal,” said Hekmat Khalil few can forget the spat between the a model of Riyasat-e-Madina in Islamabad: Saudi Crown Prince
in similar future meetings,” Mujahid Karzai, a former Afghan Deputy For- former High Commissioner and the Pakistan. Muhammad bin Salman is ex-
further said in the statement. He re- eign Minister who leads the Center then outgoing Foreign Secretary Ai- Speaking to the media follow- pected to arrive in Pakistan on
iterated that the “Islamic Emirate” for Confl ict and Peace Studies and has zaz Chaudhry that became public. ing the two-day meeting of the CII February 16. He will participate in
stance during the talks was very clear: been involved in the peace eff orts for Th e 2013 run, meanwhile, was in Islamabad on Wednesday, he an international investment con-
progress on other issues is impos- years. made interesting because of a snafu by said a task force will be formed to ference, sources said on Wednes-
sible until the issue of withdrawal of “On both sides I sense there is the PML-N government that recalled formulate a comprehensive plan day.
foreign forces from Afghanistan is seriousness, I sense there is commit- Mr Basit from Germany, where he was for the creation of a Medina-like Th e two-day event will be
agreed upon. ment, and I feel there is resolve,” he posted as ambassador, and appointed state. held at a fi ve-star hotel. Th e date
However, he dismissed some was quoted by Th e New York Times him the Foreign Secretary, but then Dr Anwar, Khursheed of the conference, scheduled to
media reports that the Taliban nego- (NYT). replaced his nomination with Aizaz Nadeem, Alama Arif Waheedi and be held in Islamabad; however, is
tiators have agreed on a ceasefi re and Karzai said the American side before he could take charge. Th at epi- Dr Farkhunda Zia will be mem- tentative.
will hold talks with the Kabul admin- had shown that seriousness by begin- sode set up the bitter fi ght witnessed bers of the group, the CII chief Pakistan is likely to sign a
istration. ning an eff ort that includes not only in 2017. added. number of investment deals, in-
Th e Taliban spokesperson also extensive meetings with the Taliban, In the current race Ambassador “Th e CII plays a vital role in cluding construction of a multi-
thanked Qatar for its ‘facilitation role’. but also outreach to all regional actors to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg the law making process and it re- billion-dollar oil refi nery in the
Th e US representative was also and stakeholders, such as Pakistan, Naghmana Hashmi is the senior most views all laws formulated by par- port city of Gwadar, during the
satisfi ed with the progress in the talks. Russia and China to cooperate. “I also followed by Sohail Mahmood, second liament,” he informed. Prince’s visit.
“Meetings here [in Doha] were more see the resolve on the part of the Tali- in the seniority, and Ambassador to As regards the much dis- Earlier this month, Saudi
productive than they have been in the ban,” he said. “I see that they are mov- Italy Nadeem Riaz and Envoy to cussed issue of interest on bor- Adviser for Energy and Mineral
past. We made signifi cant progress on ing beyond the standard rhetoric, that Germany Johar Saleem, in the third rowing, Dr Ayaz said the Islamic Resources Ahmad Al-Ghamdi
vital issues,” Zalmay Khalilzad said in they are not only engaging but seem and fourth places, respectively. Am- Council would put an end to the had disclosed representatives of
a series of tweets on microblogging committed to a political settlement.” bassador Mahmood, Ambassador interest system in the country a Saudi company, Aqua Power,
site Twitter. It will be months or even years Riaz and Ambassador Saleem are which would subsequently stop would be visiting Pakistan soon
He said the two sides would before a fi nal peace settlement is from the same course — 13th Com- the process of borrowing foreign to introduce renewable energy
build on the momentum and “resume reached, but this is the fi rst time there mon — but Mr Mahmood is senior loans on interest. technologies, including solar and
talks shortly”. “We have a number has been actual progress toward the in intra-batch seniority. Th e other Speaking on the issue of di- wind power, in the country.
of issues left to work out. Nothing is prospect of peace; all earlier eff orts to name that is being talked about in vorce, he said triple divorce is a According to another report
agreed until everything is agreed, and even start talks had failed. the race for the top slot of Foreign social issue and the Council had the Saudi Prince will address the
‘everything’ must include an intra- According to NYT, the human Offi ce is Ambassador to the UAE earlier suggested to penalize such Pakistani nation during his visit.
Afghan dialogue and comprehensive cost has been high: 2,419 American Moazzam Ahmad, who is far too an act. “Laws will be formulated Diplomatic sources have re-
ceasefi re,” he added. lives; 1,142 allied lives; at least 62,000 down on the seniority list placed at with the consultation of the Min- vealed that an announcement for
Khalilzad thanked the Qatari Afghan military and police lives, and the ninth rung. Ms Hashmi, many istry of Human Rights to ensure the biggest investment in the his-
government, particularly Deputy possibly as many Taliban lives; more believe, is not in contention be- women get their due share in in- tory of Pakistan is also expected
Prime Minister Muhammad Bin Ab- than 14,000 civilian lives over the cause of her impending retirement heritance assets.” during the forthcoming visit of
dur Rehman Al Th ani, who is also the past decade; and at least twice those in about a year and a half. On October 22 last year, Dr Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
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