CHARSADDA/PESHAWAR: Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan has said all stakeholders in the Afghan conflict should convince the Afghan government and Taliban for peace dialogue.

He was talking to the outgoing Afghan ambassador, Atif Mashaal, who called on him in Walibagh here on Saturday.

ANP senior vice-president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, provincial president Aimal Wali Khan and other leaders were present on the occasion.Mr Asfandyar said the decision about the future of Afghanistan should be taken by the Afghan people and their elected representatives.

He said the US would have to remove hurdles to the intra-Afghan talks after peace agreement with the Afghan Taliban.

“All stakeholders should play an effective role to bring the Afghan Taliban and Kabul to the table for talks to resolve the conflict,” he said.

The ANP leader said the success of Loya Jirga was necessary to establish peace in the war-torn country.

GOVT FLAYED: ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan has said despite the passage of over five years, the National Action Plan meant to eliminate terrorism

from the country had not been fully implemented showing the incompetence of the federal and provincial governments.

In a message released in connection with the fourth anniversary of the Quetta blast on Friday, the ANP leader paid tribute to around 60 lawyers,who were killed in the terrorist attack.

He said the sacrifices of blast victims would not go to waste.

“We are the heirs of the martyred lawyers and will carry their mission forward for the rule of law and a peaceful and just society,” he said.

Mr Asfandyar said unfortunately, justice had yet not been provided to the families of lawyers.

He said the Quetta massacre was an unforgettable incident wherein an entire generation of lawyers from Balochistan’s capital was targeted.

The ANP leader said the Quetta attack couldn’t dent the courage of the legal fraternity, which continued to strive for the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution in the country.

He said being followers of Bacha Khan, the ANP activists would continue to raise voice for a peaceful society.

Mr Asfandyar said the wrong policies of the successive government had led to the imposition of the menace of terrorism on Pakistani society.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2020