The role of Pakistan remains quite pivotal in making peace deal happen between the Afghan government and the Taliban leaders. In a much unexpected move, the Pakistani government has released 26 Taliban prisoners over the past month. The exact location of the released Taliban is unknown even to the Afghan government on whose demand such releases are occurring. But the measure is a step forward to nudge Taliban leaders into table talks.
A change in the strategy of Pakistani government towards Afghan peace process is quite visible. And that is beneficial for the western-backed Afghan peace and reconciliation process. The country that had been detaining any Taliban leader having an intention to negotiate with Afghan government, is now releasing Taliban prisoners one after another. It did not object Taliban's participation in the recently concluded Paris conference in which different factions involved in Afghan conflict and politics came together to discuss various issues pertaining to the future of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, General Ashfaq Kayani, chief of Pakistan army, is said to have made peace in Afghanistan a top priority. On December 7, Kayani hammered home his determination to support a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan at a meeting of his top commanders at the Pakistan army headquarters in Rawalpindi. "He (Kayani) said Afghan reconciliation is our top priority," an unnamed Pakistani intelligence official was reported as saying. The change in Pakistan's mindset has once again created hope about a peaceful end to the war in Afghanistan.
Indeed, Pakistan itself is experiencing growing terror attacks that have resulted in reduced public trust, slower economic growth and other social and political problems. Pakistan shares a long border with Afghanistan and has a number of commonalities – culture, religion, language etc. One more common factor between them is terrorism and extremism. Both the countries have the lowest level of security and insurgency is growing with each passing day.
What Pakistan has always maintained is that a stable Afghanistan is in its favor. The same can be said in reverse, i.e. a stable Pakistan is in the best interest of Afghanistan. The two neighbors should come together and support each other's initiative. They need to bolster their relationships based on the mutual respect and sincerity and stop the blame game. Pakistan says, it is supporting every initiative that can bring peace to Afghanistan. The time has come for Pakistan to prove this practically.