ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Sunday it was concerned by "negative comments" from Afghanistan regarding its commitment to the Afghan peace process after the Afghan foreign ministry issued a statement expressing concern about social media videos showing senior Taliban leaders meeting their followers and Taliban fighters in Pakistan.
In a video that circulated on social media last week, the head of the Taliban’s political office, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is purportedly seen briefing a Taliban group on ongoing peace negotiations in Doha. In a second video, a member of the Taliban’s political team is also seen meeting men wearing uniforms used by Taliban fighters.
Baradar was in Pakistan in mid-December with other Taliban delegates to meet top Pakistani officials in the latest attempt to push forward stalled peace talks between the group and the Kabul government that began in Doha, Qatar, in September to end decades of war.
“While Pakistan’s efforts are acknowledged and appreciated by the Afghan society and the international community, we are concerned about some negative comments which continue to emanate from certain official as well as unofficial Afghan circles,” Pakistani foreign office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhari said in a statement.
When Taliban representatives arrived in Pakistan on December 16, the Afghan foreign ministry had issued a statement that the visit was taking place in consultation with the Kabul government.
Following the viral video, however, Kabul said on Friday: “It is with deepest regret and concern that some Taliban leaders were seen in the videos visiting training camps,” rejecting the “overt presence and activities” of Taliban fighters and leadership in Pakistan.
“We urge the Pakistani government not to allow its territory to be used by insurgents and elements who insist on continuing the war and bloodshed,” the Afghan foreign ministry said.
In Sunday's statement, Chaudhari said Pakistan wanted to "reiterate its firm commitment" to lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, adding that a "public blame game" was detrimental to the Afghan peace process as well as efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation, which were strengthened during Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Kabul in November.
"We would continue to emphasize the mutually agreed fundamental principle that all bilateral issues including security and intelligence matters should be addressed through relevant bilateral forums and channels," he said, adding that Pakistan was ready to extend to Afghanistan all possible cooperation in the area of security.
Referring to Doha talks that are set to restart on January 5, the foreign office spokesman said it was important for the negotiating parties to avoid accusations in the "delicate phase" of the peace process.
The peace negotiations in Doha follow a landmark deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in February, with Pakistan considered key in getting the Taliban to the negotiation table with American delegations and to ultimately participate in intra-Afghan talks.