ISLAMABAD: Pakistan welcomed the commencement of the second round of the intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha on Wednesday, saying the two sides had made significant progress by finalizing the rules and procedures last month and were now ready to negotiate on substantive issues.
“The year 2020 witnessed substantial progress toward peace in Afghanistan, with a number of positive developments including conclusion of US-Taliban Peace Agreement on 29 February 2020, start of intra-Afghan Negotiations on 12 September 2020, and agreement on Rules and Procedures on 2 December 2020, which paved the way for meaningful progress in the peace talks. We remain hopeful that the year 2021 will witness the dawn of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan,” said an official handout circulated by the country’s foreign office.
“We hope that the two negotiating teams would continue to engage with open-mind and will observe patience, prudence and perseverance to seize this historic opportunity for peace,” it continued. “We call upon both sides to remain constructively engaged and show flexibility in the negotiations for reaching an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement which would lead to lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
The foreign office maintained that Pakistan’s constructive role and facilitation of the Afghan peace process had been recognized by the international community, adding that it would continue to extend all possible support for the Afghan peace process.
The handout also expressed concern on high level of violence in Afghanistan that has resulted in loss of precious Afghan lives.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly called on all sides to take measures for reduction in violence leading to cease-fire,” it said. “We are hopeful that the two sides will prioritize working out a road-map for reduction in violence and cease-fire in the negotiations.”
