KABUL/ ISLAMABAD/ WASHINGTON (SW): The government of Afghanistan on Wednesday welcomed maiden session of Peace Talks with the Taliban in Pakistan’s tourist resort Murree a day ago.
The Afghan government delegation comprised of Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khail Karzai, former provincial governor Haji Deen Mohammad and Mohammad Natiqi, representative of the Chief Executive Office.
“The Government of Afghanistan approves the decisions made in it and see it as a first step for peace”, a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs MoFA said. Afghan government appreciated the role of Pakistan in facilitating and hosting the meeting.
“The government of Afghanistan also thanks the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China for their cooperation in this process and deems their joint efforts alongside those of other regional states necessary to ensuring security and stability in Afghanistan and region, especially in repelling new regional security threats", the MoFA said.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has undertaken comprehensive efforts to garner the support of all groups in society for the inter-Afghan peace process, it added.
Afghan government also lauded the determination of national security forces for creating enabling environment for durable peace and rooting out international terrorism from Afghanistan.
Separately, the government of Pakistan has confirmed reports about representatives of China and the USA also participating in the meeting.
“The participants were duly mandated by their respective leadership and expressed their collective desire to bring peace to Afghanistan and the region”, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.
It added the participants exchanged views on ways and means to bring peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. “It was agreed that for lasting peace in the region, each side would approach the process in sincerity and with full commitment”.
The next meeting will be held at mutually convenient date after the month of Ramazan.
Meanwhile, the US appreciated the role being played by Pakistan in facilitating direct talks, between Afghan government and the Taliban, seeking prioritization of peace and reconciliation efforts in the strife-torn country.
"The United States welcomes talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. This is an important step in advancing prospects for a credible peace," White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, told reporters.
The head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Nicholas Haysom, while welcomed the direct talks, urged the parties to take the next steps towards a reconciliation and peace process.
“In the long term, peace is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” said Haysom. “I welcome the direct face-to-face engagement by the parties as the only way to achieving progress towards a negotiated agreement and ultimately the peace that Afghanistan deserves.”
Haysom, who is also the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, expressed his appreciation to the parties for taking this important first step, as well as to the Government of Pakistan for hosting the meeting.
ENDS