PM Gilani going Qatar to talk about Afghan peace

PM Gilani going Qatar to talk about Afghan peace

Prime Minster Yusuf Raza Gilani is going to Qatar on Monday to contribute in Afghan peace talk while Taliban and US officials have initiated the preliminary round of the discussion.

According to an article by AFP, Pakistan insists that any progression to put an end to the 10-year war should be Afghan-led.

On the other hand, President Hamid Karzai is deemed to have felt unimportant by the discussion initiated between US Officials and Taliban.

Islamabad has sanctioned Gilani a three-day visit to Qatar, in an attempt to take benefit from the opportunity and maximize trade.

The spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said, “He will meet among others the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr al Thani.”

“The prime minister’s visit is aimed at opening new vistas for enhanced mutual cooperation and activating the existing structured mechanisms and institutional linkages,” he added.

Furthermore, the Taliban affirmed that they intended to establish a political office in Qatar prior to expected talks with the US. The preliminary round of the peace talk has begun between both parties and a prisoner exchange is possible.

On the condition of anonymity, a high-ranked Pakistani official told AFP that, “There are certain ideas and suggestions on Afghan reconciliation and when Prime Minister Gilani meets Qatar’s leadership, these will certainly come under discussion.”

“The Americans have been briefing us on all developments aimed at pushing forward the peace process in Afghanistan and we have clearly told them that Islamabad strictly adheres to a policy of non-interference,” he added.

While responding to a question regarding the Afghan peace, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told that Pakistan will do anything to help Afghans end the war, but stressed that the peace process should be led by them.

The senior official told that it was “important to engage all Afghan factions including Taliban in the process to achieve a lasting peace.”

While addressing the question regarding Taliban office in Qatar, the official said, “now they have an address and all those wanting peace can have a contact.”

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=11822

Posted by Mursil Mehmood Butt on Feb 6 2012. Filed under Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry