Pakistan urges Taliban to join peace-process

The first of its kinds, Pakistan publically made an appeal to Taliban and other militant groups to join an intra-Afghan process for national reconciliation, urging their leadership to take part in peace talks with the Afghan government.

In response to a request made by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, this significant move was made was taken by Islamabad on Friday.

Karzai, who recently visited Islamabad, sought the help of Pakistani leaders in reaching out to Taliban fighters led by Mullah Omar for peace negotiations.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, after holding a meeting with ISI chief Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha on the Afghan issue made the appeal in a policy statement.

He observed, “It is now time to turn a new leaf and open a new chapter in the history of Afghanistan. It is time to now combine the strengths of the Afghan people in a true spirit of our noble religion – Islam, and in accordance with the glorious traditions of the Afghans to build peace and bring prosperity to Afghanistan”.

Some of the analysts believe that the meeting between top spy master and the premier was meant to show that the appeal had the backing of the security establishment.

Gilani commented, “I would like to appeal to the Taliban leadership as well as to all other Afghan groups, including Hizb-i-Islami, to participate in an intra-Afghan process for national reconciliation and peace”.

He sincerely anticipated that the Taliban leadership, Hizb-i-Islami and all other Afghan political leaders will react optimistically to his appeal and agree to enter into direct negotiations in the framework of an intra-Afghan process for reconciliation and peace in the region.

According to analysts the move is considered to be a significant development in the context of Afghan reconciliation process.

It appeared at a time when dialogue-process appeared to be struggling to gain momentum despite the agreement on establishment of Taliban’s political office in Qatar.

Earlier this week, Gilani and Karzai talked over telephone in which the latter renewed his request for Pakistan’s assistance to the reconciliation process. The telephonic conversation had followed Karzai’s discussion with US President Obama.

Gilani asserted, “It is now time to turn a new leaf and open a new chapter in the history of Afghanistan. It is time to now combine the strengths of the Afghan people in a true spirit of our noble religion Islam and in accordance with the glorious traditions of the Afghans to build peace and bring prosperity to Afghanistan”.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 25 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.