ISLAMABAD: With the second round of Russia-led talks for Afghanistan’s peace process starting on Friday, Pakistan said that an additional secretary will be leading the country’s delegation at the meeting in Moscow.
“We have always maintained that the most viable solution to the conflict in Afghanistan is an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process. Role of Afghanistan’s neighbors would be very important in such a process,” Dr. Muhammad Faisal, Foreign Ministry spokesman, said on Thursday.
He added that if Afghanistan’s peace and reconciliation process is supported by its neighbors and important regional countries, it “would have more chances of success”. “In this regard, it can be expected that this meeting would contribute to developing a regional consensus in support of the Afghan peace process,” he said.
In a statement released on Thursday, Russia’s foreign ministry said that invitations for the event have been sent to participating countries – namely Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States.
“President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai has made a decision to send a delegation of the Afghanistan High Peace Council. For the first time, a delegation of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, Qatar, will take part in an event of this kind,” Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, said in Moscow on Thursday.
The consultative meeting in Moscow was earlier scheduled for September 4 but was postponed after the Afghan government said it would only attend on the condition that all meetings be Afghan-led.
Pakistan turns to Russia for peace in Afghanistan
Pakistan turns to Russia for peace in Afghanistan
- Additional secretary to lead Islamabad delegation at the talks
- This will be the second round of Moscow-led consultations for the purpose
’All the pressure’ on Pakistan as USA out to inflict another T20 shock
- USA gave tournament favorites India a big scare in their opening match in Mumbai
- Pakistan cannot afford any slip-ups after saying they would not play India on Feb. 15
COLOMBO: USA leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin said Monday that “the pressure will be on Pakistan” when the teams lock horns in the T20 World Cup again, two years after the Americans inflicted a shock defeat on the former champions.
But Pakistan quick bowler Salman Mirza insisted the stunning super over defeat in Dallas in the 2024 T20 World Cup would be firmly “in the past” when the two clash in Colombo on Tuesday.
The USA team gave tournament favorites India a big scare in their opening match in Mumbai, reducing them to 77-6 at one point, with Mohsin taking a wicket on his T20 World Cup debut, before losing by 29 runs.
They are confident they can repeat their stunning upset of two years ago in the Group A encounter.
“The pressure of losing the last game will be on Pakistan,” said Mohsin.
Born and brought up playing cricket in Pakistan, Mohsin migrated to the US five years ago and warned the USA were a better team now than two years ago.
“I have played with most of the players in this Pakistan team, so I have given my input to the team and we are a more skilled and confident team.”
Mirza was confident the last defeat will not prey on the Pakistan players’ minds.
“Winning and losing are part of the game, it happens in cricket,” Mirza said. “The defeat against the USA is now past and behind us.”
Pakistan, the 2009 champions, were close to suffering another shock in their opening match against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Pakistan were staring at defeat with 29 runs needed in the last two overs but all-rounder Faheem Ashraf’s big hitting bailed them out.
Pakistan cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to qualify for the super eight stage as one of the top two teams in Group A after saying they would not play India on February 15.
Defeat to the USA two years ago saw them fail to get out of the group.
Mirza admitted the smaller teams were dangerous opponents.
“Until now all the matches are close and no team is small or big in this format,” said Mirza, who took 3-24 against the Netherlands.
Pakistan may bring back experienced batsman Fakhar Zaman to replace Babar Azam who has been criticized for slow scoring.
