Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, on Tuesday, arrived in Kabul for an all-important meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. According to the Afghan media, both Ghani and Bajwa discussed peace, fighting terrorism and reduction of Violence during their meeting.
Pak COAS Gen. Bajwa arrived in Kabul to discuss political-military developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the region with HE President Ghani and the military-political leadership of Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/sNoQYqKYPD
— Tamim Asey (@tamimasey) June 12, 2018
Previously, Major General Asif Ghafoor, Pakistan army’s spokesperson, in a statement said that General Bajwa’s visit was an outcome of Afghan President’s invitation. “Pakistan wishes to see a national unity government in Kabul and US/NATO succeeding to bring peace in Afghanistan,” Ghafoor, through ISPR’s official twitter handle, tweeted.
Army Chief left for Kabul to meet President Ashraf Ghani on his invitation. Pakistan wishes to see National Unity Government and US / NATO succeeding to bring peace in Afghanistan.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) June 12, 2018
Ghafoor’s tweet was also tweeted in Pashto language:
د پاکستان د فوج مشر ارمي چیف له افغانستان اولسمشر اشرف غني په خصوصي توګه دعوت ورکړی دی۔
پاکستان خواهش لري چې د افغانستان او امریکا / نیتو د افغان امن دپاره کوششونه کامیاب شي۔— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) June 12, 2018
In another important development, it was earlier reported that both Pakistan and China had played an integral role in brokering an ‘Eid-ceasefire’ between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
We welcome the three days ceasefire announced by the Taliban starting on the first day of Eid. This comes following the bold decision by the Islamic republic of #Afghanistan to cease the fight for a period of time.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) June 9, 2018
We are pleased that the Taliban have accepted our ceasefire declaration for Eid. This is the first break in 23 years and we ask for your support to utilize the window for moving forward with intra-Afghan peace talks.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) June 10, 2018
The Afghan Taliban, in this regard, announced on Saturday that a three day ceasefire would be observed on Eid ul Fitr. This ceasefire is the first such truce agreed upon by both the Taliban and the Afghan government since the US led NATO invasion in Afghanistan. The move came on the heels of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s statement, announcing unconditional ceasefire with the Taliban till the 20th of this month.
#Afghan national defense and security forces will only stop offensive maneuvers against Afghan armed Taliban and will continue to target Daesh and other foreign backed terrorist organizations and their affiliates.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) June 7, 2018
According to Pakistani officials, The Taliban agreed to the proposal only if China and Pakistan become ‘guarantors.’
© Copyright Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Afghan Studies Center (ASC), Islamabad.
