Nawaz promises push for Afghan peace talks

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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that the release of a senior Taliban leader proves his country is committed to fostering peace in Afghanistan despite rising tensions in the region.
During his first visit to Kabul since his election for a third term in May this year, Nawaz met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and assured the leader that “Pakistan would continue to extend all possible facilitation for the Afghan peace process”.
He said the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the former Taliban number two, freed from years of detention last September, would help to jumpstart peace negotiations with the Taliban.
On the occasion, a cousin of Baradar, also met the prime minister and requested for arranging a meeting with the Afghan militant commander. The request was backed by Karzai on which Nawaz asked the authorities concerned to arrange the meeting.
The prime minister also met Qutbuddin Hilali of Hizb-e-Islami, Fatima Gilani, the daughter of Burhanuddin Gilani and former Afghan interior minister Abdullah Abdullah at a luncheon where all Afghan cabinet members were also present. ISAF commanders also met with the prime minister.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told a joint press conference that an agreement had been reached with the Afghan president for a mechanism to allow members of the Afghan Peace Council to continue talks with Mullah Baradar.

INCLUSIVE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT:
He said that an inclusive political settlement was a key to sustainable peace in Afghanistan in the post-2014 scenario and that was why Pakistan had steadfastly supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.
President Karzai said he desired to see Pakistan and Afghanistan free of terrorism and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit would help strengthen the bilateral ties. He said Afghanistan wanted strong economic ties with Pakistan, adding that they had discussed the peace process and how Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States could bring peace in the region. He also mentioned the recent visit of head of the Afghan Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani to Pakistan.
Nawaz said that all the stakeholders in Afghanistan must join hands for supporting the efforts aimed at establishing sustainable peace in the country.
“It is imperative to reverse the destructive cycle of conflict. This is the time to take decisive steps for moving forward the dialogue process and bringing it to a successful conclusion,” he said.

MUTUAL RESPECT FOR SOVEREIGNTY:

Nawaz said Pakistan desired friendly relations with Afghanistan based on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. “A peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s vital interest,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood could only be realised by having peace and stability in Afghanistan and by forging cooperative ties between the two countries.
“We stand at the threshold of a consequential year in Afghanistan’s history. In 2014, the Afghan people would take major steps towards becoming the masters of their own destiny. We welcome this milestone and wish our Afghan brothers well,” the prime minister said.
He hoped that other countries in the region would also work to reinforce efforts for stabilization of Afghanistan. He urged the international community that it must stay engaged to help Afghanistan’s reconstruction and economic development.
Emphasizing strong trade and economic partnership, he said in the meeting they also reviewed the progress being made in advancing that goal and in developing a comprehensive, multi-dimensional relationship.
ASSISTANCE ENHANCED:

He lauded the deepening parliamentary dialogue and people-to-people contact and said this year; another batch of 600 would join thousands of other Afghan students to pursue higher studies in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan had enhanced its commitment of assistance for reconstruction and socio-economic development in Afghanistan from $385 million to $500 million. The additional $115 million would be utilized to complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones, he added.
Nawaz said Pakistan had also extended the stay of registered Afghan refugees up to December 2015. He said that both the sides agreed to accelerate the realization of trans-regional projects, including CASA-1000 and TAPI gas pipeline.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Either he does not know the meaning of 'inclusive' or owing to flawed understanding, he is making an honest mistake. The fact of the matter is that for a nation who, even after the inclusion of Objective Resolution into constitution, still think constitution is inclusive for them democracy is a dictatorship of majority.

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