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First round of Afghan govt, Taliban dialogue concludes in Murree
ISLAMABAD: The first round of talks brokered by Pakistan between representatives of the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban concluded Wednesday in Murree, with both parties agreeing to meet again.
"As part of the commitment to facilitate an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, Pakistan is hosting a meeting today between the representatives of the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban," FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said in a short statement early Wednesday.
"The representatives from United States and China are attending as observers," Qazi said earlier.
During the talks, both sides presented their stances on the prevailing situation in Afghanistan and how progress could be made.
The FO spokesman said the participants exchanged views on ways and means to bring peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Both major parties agreed that for lasting peace in the region, each side would approach the process with sincerity and full commitment.
The spokesman said participants recognised the need to undertake confidence building measures in order to engender trust among all stakeholders.
The participants were duly mandated by their respective leadership and expressed their collective desire to bring peace to Afghanistan and the region, and agreed to continue talks to create an environment conducive to the peace and reconciliation process.
The spokesman said the government of Pakistan expressed its profound thanks to the Afghan government and the Taliban for their willingness to work towards bringing lasting peace in Afghanistan.
"We also thank other partners in peace, including the United Nations, for their contribution to peace, stability and the development of Afghanistan," Qazi said.
The next meeting will be held at a mutually convenient date after Ramazan.
Officials on Tuesday said the Afghan delegation had travelled to Islamabad in the latest bid to start peace talks with the Taliban. There was no confirmation earlier, however, that the militants would take part.
“A delegation from the High Peace Council of Afghanistan has traveled to Pakistan for negotiations with the Taliban,” read a statement posted on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's official Twitter account.
The High Peace Council (HPC) is the body tasked with opening negotiations with the militants.
Sayed Zafar Hashemi, Ghani's deputy spokesman, confirmed the announcement and said the delegation was being led by deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai.
Hashemi gave no details of the expected length of talks, subjects to be discussed or Taliban participation.
In recent months there have been several informal meetings between the Taliban and Afghan officials from varied political backgrounds at venues outside Afghanistan, but little concrete progress appears to have been made.
Official efforts to reopen peace negotiations with the Taliban have so far borne little fruit, but informal talks have taken place in the recent past behind a veil of secrecy.
The Taliban last month admitted taking part in informal talks in Norway with an Afghan delegation, reportedly made up of women.
And at another round of informal meetings in Qatar in May, activists said Taliban delegates, long condemned for their misogynistic ideology and lack of respect for human rights, pledged support for women's education and their right to work in “male-dominated professions”.
The Taliban have laid down hardline preconditions for taking part in full-blown negotiations, stressing the need for the complete departure of foreign troops from Afghan soil.
The Taliban's annual offensive is in full swing, with two bomb attacks in Kabul on Tuesday, even as tentative efforts are being made to negotiate an end to their 13-year insurgency.
Nato ended its combat mission against the militants at the end of December but a smaller force has stayed on for training and counter-terrorism operations.
US welcomes peace talks
The United States welcomes talks between the Afghan government and Taliban, the White House said on Tuesday after Afghanistan announced it had sent a peace delegation to Pakistan for talks.
“This is an important step toward advancing prospects for a credible peace,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
The meeting could be a step towards starting a formal peace process with the insurgent group, which was ousted from power by a US-led invasion in 2001.
Read more: Pakistan ready to facilitate dialogue between Afghan govt, Taliban: Sartaj Aziz
Comments (44) Closed
More conspiracies to hatch after this delegation leaves
Best of luck to both and they should realize that ISIS will take over Afghanistan if both don't come together.
We must pray for thier succes because enough is enough.We the people of Pukthunkhwa are the most affected people and we know very well that no one recognising our sacrifices but we hope for the brst.
So the pak govt is in support of Taliban ???
Peace and stability in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India will be in everyone's interest we can then cut all links to the Arabs who are trying to drag the Muslim world a thousand years back.
Talibans will agree to disagree.
Why is Pakistan still sheltering Afghan Taliban honchos? Just deport them to Afghanistan.
What I don't understand is, why are the Talibans still in Pakistan? What was this Zarb-e-Azb about.
We should pray for its success.
@Rocky The problem is not so simple.
@Rocky
Important leverage my dear! Afghanistan is an important strategic depth for Pakistan.
@N Pakistani govt. is in support of peace.
No talk just eliminate them for God sake. Pakistan should not get involve in afghan-taliban. Let them deal with each other just make sure they don't enter into Pakistan.
Foreign sponsored peace agreement will never sustain. They should organize such meeting on their own land. free from external pressure and dictation.
"The Taliban have laid down hardline preconditions for taking part in full-blown negotiations, stressing the need for the complete departure of foreign troops from Afghan soil. "...... and 5 years later the country will be more lawless and run by more weirder mob than it was in 1996. Who are they kidding? They shall be given amnesty not made part of the government.
The answer for question is Taliban is 'good' terrorist (until we get bitten). We never learn lesson from history.
@N NO Pakistan is in support of peace.
it is a good news..Pakistan play a very important role to bring peace in Afghanistan.
A step in the right direction indeed. Only talks can bring lasting peace in the region.
There is no peace if Taliban shares the power in Afghanistan. Afghanistan along with India, Russia and USA should work in redevelopment of the country by better infrastructure, democracy, modern education and secularism.
Terrorists are animals they don't understand "TALKS"
Why peace talk to perpetrators and how Pakistan can held these talk, when they are fighting against same type of people?
@N @ROCKY The same way Qatar and Norway hosted talks.
"I have a dream that people will read more than just the title of an article one day..."
All US want is , to leave Afghanistan with grace, but it is horrible dream now for them, just like Russia, they have to suffer.
BEST OF LUCK WAITIG FOR A GOOD RESULT
Bring peace in Afghanistan and send back these millions of Afghan refugees .
Shabash!! We give them honor to talk on our soil and Taliban kill our soldiers... what a policy???
@Akbaruddin
The Phrase like " Strategic Depth" shows our insincerity and double standards when it comes to achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan. The time has come to recognize Afghanistan as a sovereign and independent nation. We should not forget that disturbance in Afghanistan means more problems for Pakistan. Sadly, some of us still consider as Pakistan's fifth province.
Best of Luck and get to peace quick quick.
Good effort and a timely positive gesture by Pakistan after attack scenario on Afghan Parliament.
They will just regroup while the negotiations are going on. Taliban only agree to negotiate when they are very weak . Now is the time to hit them harder than ever and without mercy. Do not trust the Taliban . Kill them without remorse !
briliant knock at the door peace.
briliant knock at the door peace.
Pakistan the peace maker. Just like we are the biggest contributor to the global UN peace missions. It is imperative that peace return to Afghanistan so the outside forces can be ejected for good and their game of deception and terrorism ends.
Now what? Afghanis will facilitate a meeting between Pakistan and TTP?? Who is kidding whom?
Dialogue or no dialogue, there is only one outcome and that is known to some. That's why they are scrambling their assets as fast as possible. Don't try to bluff the nation.
Any move meant for peace and tranquility is and should always be welcomed. Many commentators would be condemning this initiative by accusing Pakistan of having links with the Taliban. The other side of the move is worth noting and commendable. Pakistan is playing its part to bring stability not only within but outside its enclaves.
US welcomed it::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Their are different types of terrorist groups calling themselves Taliban. Years ago i read a article about a good Taliban and fake Talibans. Good Taliban dont seem to kill civillians or blow up innocents but only fight. But problem is non should be forcing their law or power and only through elections.
There is not going to be any peace between Afghanistan and Taliban. The reason lies in the temperament of the two parties.
Taliban wants to have Sharia law in Afghanistan. The main reason for this to get to the power without any democratic process day and night as a protector of Islam and Sharia law. Taliban know that they cannot win in democratic process because people don't like them because of the things they have done in the past.
Current Afghan gov cannot allow this to happen because US want the democratic process to continue and they are the one that can save them from Taliban.
This is great. We wish peace to our brothers of Afghanistan. Now they are understanding the difference between true brothers and fake friends
Hope for peace.
The litmus test of Pakistan's sincerity depends only on disarming the Afghan terrorists, who have been operating out of their sanctuaries beyond the eastern side of the Durand Line. Most importantly, the approach adopted by the Ghani-led regime to end the foreign undeclared war is totally flawed for reasons that need no elaboration.
Taliban has given nothing but blood and terror to this world and Afghanistan. Let democratic government rule if you really want no more orthodox extremists in neighbourhood. Wake up Pakistan govt