UNITED NATIONS: Returning from a UN Security Council visit to Afghanistan, US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday stressed the Kabul government wants world powers to step up pressure on Pakistan.

Ms Haley joined the 14 other council envoys for talks with top Afghan leaders in Kabul at the weekend as the government considers holding peace talks with the Taliban to end decades of insurgency.

“They feel confident that the Taliban will be coming to the table,” Ms Haley told reporters.

While talks will be Afghan-led, Kabul did request that the Security Council weigh in to bring Pakistan on board.

“They did ask us for consensus to put further pressure on Pakistan to come to the table and change their behaviour,” she said.

The Afghan government is making strides towards stability, she said, and “continues to make ten steps forward and with Pakistan they feel like they continue to take steps backward”.

Ms Haley did not specify what measures could be taken to pressure Pakistan, but the council does have the power to impose sanctions.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2018