Afghan Karzai to seek Taliban prisoners’ release

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Monday on a day-long visit, will seek Pakistan’s role to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiation table, Afghan ambassador Umder Daudzai says.

Daudzai told NewsPakistan in Islamabad on Saturday that Pakistan can facilitate the peace process as it has recently confirmed its role in the Qatar process of dialogue between the United States and the Afghan Taliban.

“If Pakistan can facilitate the Taliban and the U.S. to sit in Qatar then it can also do to bring the Taliban for talks with the Afghan High Peace Council,” the Afghan ambassador said.

He said he is confident that the visit produce “useful results” as the new government in Pakistan has promised to improve relations with Afghanistan.

Asked if President Karzai will seek release of Taliban prisoners in Pakistan, he said Afghanistan is asking for the release of all Taliban detainees still in Pakistani jails.

Pakistan says it has so far released 26 Taliban prisoners since the process has been started in November last year.

Daudzai said that relations between the two countries have improved in various fields but there is no progress in the peace process.

“Our main demand is Pakistan should cooperation to push the peace process forward,” the Afghan ambassador said.

Pakistan is also expecting positive outcome of President Karzai’s visit.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry says that President Karzai’s visit would provide an opportunity for the leadership of the two countries to carry forward the process of constructive engagement between the two countries.

“The government of Pakistan would continue to extend its support for the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. In that regard, whatever steps that we deem are helpful will be taken,” he said at his press briefing on Thursday.

He said the two sides will work together to promote the shared objectives of peace and security in the region.

“Matters relating to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, bilateral relations and regional situation will be focus of discussions during the visit,” the spokesman said.

Karzai told a news conference in Kabul on Saturday that he will hold crucial talks with Pakistan on peace and security in Afghanistan and the war against terrorism.

“We hope that the visit will result in security in the region, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and lead to a successful and fundamental fight against terrorism.”

He said he will visit Pakistan with this hope and that the desire of the Afghan and Pakistani nations for better security and fundamental struggle against terrorism is achieved during this visit, and the visit will have good results.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Aug 24 2013. Filed under Latest News, 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.