ISLAMABAD – The Afghan High Council for Peace, a body formed by Kabul to reconcile with the Taliban, on Wednesday asked Pakistan to use its “good office” for the success of ongoing negotiations between the Karzai government and the Taliban.
“The request for Pakistan’s help for the facilitation of peace talks between the Taliban and Karzai government was made here at a crucial meeting between the 25-member delegation of the High Council for Peace in Afghanistan led by former Afghan president, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani,” said an official wishing anonymity.
The meeting, according to an ISPR statement, was held at the General Headquarters. The visiting dignitaries remained with the army chief for some time and discussed matters of mutual interest, it said.
The official said ISI chief Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha also attended the meeting. He said the Afghan delegation observed that keeping in view its important role in the war on terror, historical links with Afghanistan and ties with various ethnic groups, Pakistan could facilitate the ongoing reconciliation process between Kabul and the Taliban. He said the army chief assured the Afghan delegation of all possible cooperation for the revival of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The Afghan delegation, led by Professor Rabbani, also met Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan. The delegation was supposed to meet Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, but could not as Qureshi was in Lahore to attend Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s funeral.
Extending warm welcome to Professor Rabbani and members of his delegation, the minister of state for foreign affairs said relations between the two countries had come a long way, especially in the last two years. There was complete harmony of views between the two countries, according to the Foreign Office statement.
He wished success to the High Peace Council in its efforts for promoting peace in Afghanistan and assured Pakistan’s full support in this regard.
The state minister underscored that Pakistan was actively participating in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, saying Pakistan strongly believed in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and was committed to help Afghanistan rebuild its institutions.
Professor Rabbani, expressing strong sentiments of friendship and brotherhood towards Pakistan, said Afghanistan and Pakistan were brothers and neighbours.
He appreciated Pakistan’s policy of non-interference and non- intervention and said Pakistan was the most important country for Afghanistan. “It is, therefore, important that the two countries continue to work together in order to promote peace and stability in the region,” he said.
