ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan on Wednesday welcomed efforts of Saudi Arabia for peace in Sudan and to facilitate the pre-negotiation talks in Jeddah between representatives of Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces geared to reaching a short-term ceasefire agreement and subsequent delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.

“Pakistan reiterates its principled support for a political solution to the Sudan situation through dialogue and consultation,” the Foreign Office said in a brief statement.

Negotiations between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group commenced on Saturday in Jeddah, a day after envoys of two warring generals of Sudan reached Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at firming up a shaky ceasefire after three weeks of fierce fighting that has killed hundreds.

The negotiations are the first between Sudan’s military, led by Gen Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, since clashes broke out on April 15.

The preliminary talks will “continue over the following days in the hope of reaching an effective and temporary ceasefire so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to those in need”, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The two sides have agreed to multiple truces since the fighting started, but none has effectively taken hold, with both parties blaming each other for violating them.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2023