ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has said Islamabad was “very actively” trying to push the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents to resume peace talks for a political settlement in the war-torn country, Pakistan’s state run media reported on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Taliban said this week the group planned to present a written peace proposal to the Afghan government side as soon as next month even as insurgents make major territorial gains in the breach left by departing foreign forces.
Hundreds of Afghan security force members have fled into neighboring Tajikistan in the face of Taliban advances since the United States vacated its main Afghan base, centerpiece of US and NATO might for almost two decades in the country, as part of a plan to withdraw all foreign troops by September 11.
While the transfer of Bagram Air Base to the Afghan army added momentum to a Taliban drive to seize control over new districts, Taliban leaders renewed the long stalled talks with Afghan government envoys in Qatar’s capital Doha last week.
“As the United States completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan is very actively involved in trying to move the Afghan government and Taliban to resume talks for a political settlement of the conflict,” Radio Pakistan quoted Akram as saying in response to questions about Afghanistan during a briefing with UN correspondents.
“Pakistan had in the first instance facilitated talks between the United States and Taliban in Doha and then between Afghan government and Taliban in its efforts to promote a settlement that would bring the long-running war to an end,” Radio Pakistan said.
Referring to a report about a Taliban peace plan to be presented to the Afghan government, the Pakistani envoy said: “It is a good proposal on which negotiations could move forward.”
Pakistan says ‘actively’ pushing for resumption of talks between Taliban, Kabul
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Pakistan says ‘actively’ pushing for resumption of talks between Taliban, Kabul
- Taliban say planning to present written peace proposal to Afghan government as soon as next month
- Taliban leaders renewed long stalled talks with Afghan government envoys in Qatar’s capital Doha last week
Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure
- Both sign $330 million Power Transmission Strengthening Project and $400 million SOE Transformation Program loan agreements
- Economic Affairs Division official says Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening national grid’s backbone
KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed two loan agreements totaling $730 million to boost reforms in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and energy infrastructure in the country, the bank said.
The first of the two agreements pertains to the SOE Transformation Program worth $400 million while the second loan, worth $330 million, is for a Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the lender said.
The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim.
“The agreements demonstrate ADB’s enduring commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan,” the ADB said.
Pakistan’s SOEs have incurred losses worth billions of dollars over the years due to financial mismanagement and corruption. These entities, including the country’s national airline Pakistan International Airlines, which was sold to a private group this week, have relied on subsequent government bailouts over the years to operate.
The ADB approved the $400 million loan for SOE reforms on Dec. 12. It said the program seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs.
Karim highlighted that the Power Transmission Strengthening Project will enable reliable evacuation of 2,300 MW from Pakistan’s upcoming hydropower projects, relieve overloading of existing transmission lines and enhance resilience under contingency conditions, the Press Information Department (PID) said.
“The Secretary emphasized that both initiatives are transformative in nature as the Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening the backbone of the national grid whereas the SOE Program will enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises nationwide,” the PID said.
The ADB has supported reforms by Pakistan to strengthen its public finance and social protection systems. It has also undertaken programs in the country to help with post-flood reconstruction, improve food security and social and human capital.
To date, ADB says it has committed 764 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance totaling $43.4 billion to Pakistan.
