Pakistan has stake in Afghan peace talks: US

Published February 25, 2015
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.—AFP/File
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.—AFP/File

WASHINGTON: As Afghanistan moved closer to holding direct peace talks with the Taliban, the US State Department acknowledged that Pakistan too has a stake in the outcome.

“In terms of the role of Pakistan, we have long encouraged Pakistan to support (Afghan) President (Ashraf) Ghani’s reconciliation efforts,” said the department’s spokesperson Jen Psaki when asked to define Islamabad’s role in these talks.

“We, of course, remain in support and in contact with President Ghani on these matters as well as certainly countries like Pakistan who have a stake in the outcome,” she said.

Know more: Afghan Taliban’s Doha office revived: Pakistan officials

On Monday, Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah told reporters in Kabul that peace talks with the Taliban would begin in the “near future”.

President Ghani also declared over the weekend that peace was closer now than at any time since the war began more than 13 years ago.

They also said that Pakistan was playing a positive role in their efforts to bring peace to the war-ravaged country and was encouraging Taliban leaders to talk to Kabul.

Ms Psaki acknowledged seeing those comments and said the United States continued to support “an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process” whereby the Taliban and the Afghans engaged in talks towards a settlement to resolve the conflict.

Asked if the US found Pakistan’s role in these talks encouraging, she noted that the Afghan president also had acknowledged this role in his recent statements and in his inaugural address.

The United States too had “long encouraged” Pakistan to support a reconciliation process, said the US official, adding that both Afghanistan and Pakistan had “shown a commitment to try to move forward”.

Ms Psaki, however, rejected the notion that the United States too was talking to the Taliban.

“There are no direct or indirect talks,” she added.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Slow start
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Slow start

Despite high attendance, the NA managed to pass only a single money bill during this period.
Sindh lawlessness
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Sindh lawlessness

A recently released report describes the law and order situation in Karachi as “worryingly poor”.
Punjab budget
15 Jun, 2024

Punjab budget

PUNJAB’S budget for 2024-25 provides much fodder to those who believe that the increased provincial share from the...
Budget and politics
Updated 14 Jun, 2024

Budget and politics

PML-N, scared of taking bold steps lest it loses whatever little public support it has, has left its traditional support — traders — virtually untouched.
New talks?
14 Jun, 2024

New talks?

WILL this prove another false start, or may we expect a more sincere effort this time? Reference is made to the...
A non-starter
14 Jun, 2024

A non-starter

WHILE the UN Security Council had earlier this week adopted a US-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza...