Afghanistan needs Pakistan’s ‘influence’ to keep Taliban engaged in peace process — envoy

Pakistan's armed forces chief, Gen. Qamar Bajwa, meets Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Najibullah Alikhil, at the Pakistan Army's headquarters in Rawalpindi, April 22, 2021. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Army)
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Updated 17 July 2021
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Afghanistan needs Pakistan’s ‘influence’ to keep Taliban engaged in peace process — envoy

  • Ambassador Najibullah Alikhil says Pakistan’s role needed for intra-Afghan talks to reach next phase
  • Pakistan was key in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table when peace talks began in Doha, Qatar, in September last year

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan needs and expects Pakistan to play a meaningful role in persuading the Taliban to remain engaged in the ongoing peace process and reduce violence, the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad said on Wednesday.
Violence in Afghanistan has escalated sharply in recent weeks as the Taliban have stepped up their attacks against Afghan security forces since the US postponed its troop drawdown to Sept. 11 from a May 1 deadline agreed in talks with the Taliban last year.
The US move also prompted the Taliban to withdraw from a Washington-backed Afghan peace conference in Istanbul, Turkey, which was scheduled for April 24 to fast-track a power-sharing agreement between the group and the Kabul government to end decades of conflict as the US forces pull out.
“It is our expectation that Pakistan will play a meaningful role in encouragement and persuasion of the Taliban in the peace process and to reduce violence. Pakistan’s role is recognized for this purpose,” Ambassador Najibullah Alikhil told Arab News.
He added: “Pakistani side has always emphasized that it has influence over them (Taliban) and we respect this approach that Pakistan has influence.”




Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan, Najibullah Alikhil, speaks to Arab News at the Afghan embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AN photo) 

Pakistan was key in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table when intra-Afghan peace talks began in Doha, Qatar, in September last year.
“We praise Pakistan’s role for paving the way for the start of the Doha peace process,” Najibullah said. “As now we are reaching another phase in the peace process there is a need for Pakistan’s constructive role as a brotherly and neighboring country.”
Last week, US, Chinese, Russian and Pakistani officials met with Taliban representatives in Doha to encourage them to join the Istanbul conference that is expected to be held after Eid Al-Fitr.
“Peace and stability in Afghanistan are in the interests of Pakistan and war in Afghanistan is detrimental for Pakistan,” Najibullah said, adding that Islamabad’s steps for the Afghan peace process over the past eight months have led to improvement in its ties with Kabul.
“The atmosphere of trust has been created to some extent,” he said. “We want to take more steps in this regard.”


Chinese giant Hoymiles enters Pakistani market to provide high-tech energy storage solutions

Updated 05 January 2026
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Chinese giant Hoymiles enters Pakistani market to provide high-tech energy storage solutions

  • The development comes after Pakistan emerges as one of world’s fastest-growing solar markets, importing nearly 50GW of solar panels
  • Hoymiles entry will address long-hour backup and energy storage challenges facing Pakistan’s growing solar sector, local partner says

KARACHI: Renowned Chinese inverter manufacturer Hoymiles has entered Pakistan to provide high-tech, long-duration energy storage solutions for residential, commercial and industrial buildings by utilizing solar systems for electricity consumption, its Pakistani partner said on Monday.

Over the past few years, a large number of Pakistani industrial, commercial and residential electricity consumers have shifted to solar power systems to address frequent power outages and the rising cost of electricity. Reports indicate that net-metering capacity currently stands at 6,000 megawatts (MWs), while off-grid solar capacity has increased to 12,000 MWs in Pakistan by the end of 2025.

Hoymiles has formed strategic partnerships with Superstar, a renowned name in Pakistan’s automotive industry, and Harisun Energy, a new entrant in the energy solutions sector, to explore the Pakistani market, which is witnessing rapid growth in solar power adoption. In this regard, launch events were held simultaneously in Karachi and Lahore, unveiling multiple storage solutions produced by Hoymiles under the brands of Harisun Energy and Superstar.

Speaking as the chief guest at the Hoymiles launching ceremony in Karachi, Ali Rashid, advisor to Sindh chief minister on science and information technology (IT), said the provincial government appreciates foreign investors, particularly Chinese companies, establishing their industries, assembly, and distribution units in Karachi to meet the demand of the local market as well as export solutions to other countries.

“The government is working rigorously to facilitate foreign investors and companies to enhance their business and commercial activities, mainly in the technology and renewable energy sectors, to improve the living standards of the public and boost economic activity within the country and the province of Sindh,” he said.

The Sindh government is currently collaborating with various Chinese companies across different sectors, including logistics and renewable energy, and it welcomes further cooperation between the private and public sectors, according to Rashid.

The provincial government is considering establishing its own regulatory authority and transmission company, aimed at setting up a separate electricity grid system at the provincial level, which could provide affordable electricity to the masses and enhance connectivity to remote areas, preferably through renewable energy resources.

According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Pakistan has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing solar markets, importing approximately 50 GW of solar panels amid falling prices and widespread adoption across sectors in the first half of the year. This surge has made Pakistan the third-largest market for Chinese solar panels, a growth that has attracted global attention.

Superstar Solar Energy and Harisun Energy are introducing Hoymiles’ innovative range of solar inverters, energy storage solutions, and smart energy management systems to the Pakistani market. These solutions are designed to deliver reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy, empowering individuals and businesses to harness solar power as a clean and green energy source.

“Pakistan’s growing solar sector is facing a major challenge related to long-hour backup and energy storage solutions, which will soon be addressed with the entry of a global leader in energy solutions,” said Haris Jamsheed, CEO of Harisun Energy.

“Our partnership with the Chinese company will provide innovative energy storage solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial solar systems, enabling uninterrupted electricity supply at workplaces, factories, and homes during nighttime hours.”

Solarization has continued to expand across the country on a large scale due to prolonged load-shedding in remote areas and the high cost of electricity, which has become unaffordable for many households and industrial units, particularly in recent years.

“We have vowed to bring an energy revolution to Pakistan through innovative storage solutions, as the industrial and commercial sectors can enhance productivity with low-cost electricity backup systems,” said Saleem Umar, Chairman of Superstar.

“Affordable electricity will reduce operational costs at the domestic level, enabling exporters to compete more effectively in global markets.”