ISLAMABAD - Islamabad believes peace with the Taliban is in the interest of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying insistence on a military does not offer a solution to the problem.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tasneem Aslam, in a special meeting with Afghan journalists in Islamabad, said her country, like Afghanistan, was looking forward to peace with Taliban.
She said Islamabad and Kabul, both victims of terrorism, needed cooperative ties, to frustrate efforts by the insurgents to fuel insecurity and hamper development in the two countries.
She added her country, having rendered a lot of sacrifices in the fighting against terrorism, had boosted security at the Durand Line to prevent the militant infiltration.
However, it was impossible for one side to control such a long frontier, she argued, urging Afghanistan to beef up security on its side of the Durand Line,
Pakistan is often blamed for supporting the Afghan Taliban and providing them travel facilities, a charge vehemently denied by Islamabad, which says it conducted several military operations to thwart such movements.
Asked why Pakistan did not pressure the Afghan Taliban into peace talks, she replied Islamabad had a vested interest in peace in the war-torn country. The official denied the ISI was supportive of the Afghan insurgents.
She believed the Afghans should try even more for stability, given the successful peace deal with Hezb-i-Islami leader Gulbadin Hekmatyar -- a perfect example of sincere reconciliation negotiations.
Aslam said they had never told the Taliban to avoid making peace with the Afghan government. Pakistan had always supported the peace process and major projects for Afghanistan’s peace and prosperity.
After the President Ashraf Ghani expressed disappointment with Pakistan’s role in the Afghan-led peace process, talks with Taliban had been on the ice.
The deputy foreign minister said Pakistan would play an important role in implementing US President Donal Trump’s new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)