ISLAMABAD - Senior Pakistani analysts say efforts are underway to persuade Taliban to join Afghan peace process but any coercive measures to force Taliban to sit for talks would not be fruitful.
Pak analysts: Use of force would fail to bring Afghan Taliban to Peace talks
Talking to IRNA separately, Former Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan, Rustam Shah Mohmand and Rahimullah Yusufzai said that 'Islamabad has not stepped back from Afghanistan peace process and is very eager to bring peace in Afghanistan.'
Former Pakistani Ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand said Pakistan government is in touch with Taliban on peace process but talks cannot succeed unless basic demands of Taliban are addressed. He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have to accept ground realities to make talks fruitful.
Another senior Pakistani analyst, Rahimullah Yusufzai said that efforts are still made behind the scene to persuade the Taliban to come to the negotiating table. “Efforts are also being to persuade the Afghan government to give some concession to Taliban,” he said.
Both the analysts strongly believe that Pakistan government has not stepped back from the Afghan peace process and they are still very keen on their agenda.
Rustam Shah Mohmand expressing his views on some reports that Pakistani authorities have sent a warning letter to Taliban, said, 'It means that Pakistan seriously wants Taliban to join peace talks otherwise Pakistan will be blamed for everything.
Rahimullah Yusufzai said he has no knowledge about a warning letter to Afghan Taliban by Pakistan forcing them to join the peace process, but definitely Pakistani government would put pressure on those Taliban leaders who happen to be on Pakistani side.
The experts on Afghan affairs said Taliban had put some conditions and if those conditions are not being talked about or addressed, they will not join peace talks.
They said imposition of Islamic rule in Afghanistan, release of prisoners, scraping of black lists and agreement on principle on withdrawal of the coalition forces in a stipulated time are the main demands of Taliban.
They believed that any coercive measures that are adopted to force the Taliban to sit for talks would not deliver.
Commenting on some reports regarding Daesh threat to some Pakistan border areas with Afghanistan, the analysts also added that Daesh terrorist group is getting weak in Afghanistan and is not in a position to launch any kind of attack in Parachinar area of Pakistan but if it happens it would be repulsed by the security forces very effectively. (IRNA)