KABUL(SW): In response to Pakistan’s offer to help bring Taliban once again to the negotiation table, Afghan officials have made it clear ceasefire was pivotal for the talks to resume.
Following Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Prime Minister, remarks in Washington on bringing Taliban to the negotiation table and postponement of the peace Talks by the Taliban, now the Afghanistan government has said that there was a need for a mutual ceasefire in order for the peace talks to resume.
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday expressed their commitment to advance an Afghan-owned and-led peace and reconciliation process between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban, and called on Taliban leaders to enter into direct talks with Kabul and work toward a sustainable peace settlement.
Ismayel Qasemyar, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the High Peace Council, told Salam Watandar that a ceasefire should be declared between the Taliban and the government for the peace talks to resume. He charged that Pakistan was not honest towards the Afghan government regarding the peace talks.
He further said that the government should ignore Pakistan and should directly participate in peace talks with the militants.
In the meeting with Barak Obama in Washington last Friday, Nawaz Sharif said that it would be difficult to bring Taliban to the negotiation table and at the same time dismantle them.
Both Obama and Nawaz Sharif asked the Taliban to directly enter peace talks with Afghan government and pave the way for stability in the country.
Nawaz Sharif’s comments sparked reactions in Afghanistan and some Afghan politicians heavily criticized Pakistan.
Although Pakistan has often expressed willingness to facilitate the peace talks but the Afghan government has accused them of double standard policy.
Speaking at a press conference, Zafar Hashemi, Deputy Spokesman for the Prisdent, said that doors were always open for peace talks. He added that the government has set conditions for the Taliban as they should obey the Constitution of the country and respect the gains made over 14 years.
Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer, has also said that in order for the talks to resume, Pakistan should stop supporting the militants.
Soon after being established, the Government of National Unity made efforts to maintain and improve relations with Islamabad but after string of terrorist attacks in the capital in August, Afghanistan changed its policy towards Pakistan.
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