ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is playing an active part in the Afghan peace process, Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan said on Friday.

He was speaking at a distinguished lecture series titled, Afghan Peace Process: The Contours, Implementation, and Contemporary Status. It was organised by Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).

Former foreign minister retired ambassador Inam-ul-Haque and former defence minister retired Lt Gen Naeem Lodhi participated in the discussion.

Three parties including the United States, Taliban and Afghan Republic are important for the Afghan peace process, Ambassador Haque pointed out, adding while Pakistan is not a party to any agreements, it is interestingly the only regional country playing an active part in the broader Afghan peace process while staying cognisant of Afghan sensitivities.

The ambassador explained that the new US administration has initiated review of peace process in the region. As a result, the new administration has announced that it shall be difficult for US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) to completely withdraw their troops from Afghanistan without satisfaction of concrete conditions.

The Doha Peace Process has made some reasonable progress, he said and said that Pakistan’s support for development of a conducive environment is critical in achieving peace in Afghanistan.

Besides this, promotion and strengthening of bilateral relations between Afgha­nistan and Pakistan will help create peace in the region. He highlighted efforts made by Pakistan to realise the vision of regional connectivity by wooing Afghanistan as an active member of the regional connectivity edifice.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2021