CHARSADDA: As part of the ongoing efforts to find a political settlement to the four decades long war in Afghanistan, a delegation of Afghan government called on Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan here on Wednesday.

Afghanistan’s High Peace Council Chairman Mohammad Omar Daudzai was heading the delegation that also included Afghan Ambassador Atif Mashal, said a statement issued from Wali Bagh.

The statement said that the delegation conveyed goodwill message of Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani to Mr Wali and appreciated the efforts of ANP for restoration of peace in the war-torn country.

ANP provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak told Dawn that the visit of the delegation was part of the ongoing efforts to find a political solution to the conflict that had been affecting both Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that ANP’s stance was clear as the party always supported political settlement of the conflict.

Mr Babak said that the delegation was likely to hold meetings with leaders of other political parties in Pakistan and government.

The Wali Bagh’s statement said that Asfandyar Wali Khan told the delegation that talks could not be successful without the inclusion of the Afghan government. “The so-called Islamic State (IS) may not be controlled in case of unilateral agreement with Taliban and it will indulge the region in another war,” the statement quoted Mr Khan as saying.

He said that Afghan government should lead the ongoing peace talks being held in different countries. He said that without the involvement of government in Kabul, the efforts for peace would remain meaningless.

He said that Russia and China should play the role of guarantors in the peace talks.

He said that Taliban, Pakistan and the US administration should not ignore the Afghan government in the whole process. “This region will become another Syria if the peace talks fail,” said Mr Khan.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2019