Political settlement, dialogue only solution to Afghan conflict, PM tells Abdullah Abdullah

  • Afghan leader says he will visit Pakistan after launch of intra-Afghan talks
Published August 26, 2020

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said there is no military solution to conflict in Afghanistan. He added dialogue and political settlement are the only way forward for peaceful resolution of issues.

During a telephonic conversation with Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Chairman Dr Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday, the premier said Pakistan is committed to further deepen ties with Afghanistan and enhance cooperation in all fields.

Imran emphasized the importance of Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations, which are based on commonalities of faith and culture, shared history and fraternal bonds between the two peoples.

Highlighting Pakistan's positive contribution to the Afghan peace process, the prime minister stressed that the Afghan leaders must seize this historic opportunity to achieve an inclusive political settlement contributing to durable peace, security and prosperity in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan looks forward to the commencement of Intra-Afghan negotiations at the earliest.

The PM also invited Dr Abdullah Abdullah to visit Pakistan to share perspective on advancing the Afghan peace process and forging closer ties between the two countries. Abdullah Abdullah said that he will visit Pakistan after launch of intra-Afghan talks.

On August 25, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a meeting with a delegation of Afghan Taliban led by Mullah Baradar, the director of the political office and Taliban’s deputy emir responsible for political affairs, at Foreign Office.

During the meeting, the Taliban officials apprised him regarding the progress made on the peace pact between the United States and the Taliban.

Qureshi said Pakistan always supported the view that a lasting and permanent solution to Afghan crisis can only be achieved through dialogue.

He maintained, "Pakistan continued to play its role in the peace process under a shared responsibility, the efforts of which paid off when the US and Taliban signed the peace deal in Doha in February."

He highlighted that Pakistan hopes the leadership of Afghanistan would use the opportunity of the peace agreement to commence intra-Afghan talks. He said, "We want the intra-Afghan dialogue to be held as soon as possible to ensure peace in the region."

He said the Taliban delegation is in favour of implementing the peace deal inked in Doha. He said, "The Afghan delegation highlighted there are some obstacles in the process that could be resolved through dialogue."

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