Pakistan played key role in process of initiating intra-Afghan peace talks, says PM

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan played a key role in the process of initiating intra-Afghan peace talks, media reported on Friday.

Welcoming the start of peace process, the PM said that the people of Afghanistan had been waiting for the day for several years. He added that for the past 40 years, Afghan soil has been in grip of terrorism.

"From day one, I have been saying that there is no military solution to Afghan issue but talks," he stated.

The prime minister maintained that it is now up to the Afghan administration to work towards maintaining peace in the region which the people of Afghanistan have been waiting for years.

Earlier, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed long-awaited "historic" peace talks between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban.

Pompeo made the statement in-flight on his way to Qatar's capital of Doha where the meeting will take place.

The United States has been attempting to ease negotiations between the two warring sides since signing a troop withdrawal deal with the militants in February, but the process was hit by delays over disagreements about the release of prisoners.