April 27, 2021
The Pakistani delegation under the headship of special envoy Mohammad Sadiq during their two-day visit to Kabul has guaranteed the Afghan government of the meaningful involvement of the Taliban at the Istanbul summit, according to sources who were a part of the meetings.
Umer Daudzai, President Ghani’s special envoy for Pakistan, stated that his Pakistani counterpart also assured them that the Taliban will settle on a reduction in violence and ceasefire with their participation at the peace summits.
The delegation promised it will fulfil its promises right after the declaration of a new date for the Turkey conference.
The delegation met with President Ghani’s special envoy Umer Daudzai and National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib in separate meetings.
Mr. Daudzai stated “They brought the message that they will work with all their resources to convince the Taliban to agree to a ceasefire and that the Taliban should not miss the chance for talks. They were referring to the Istanbul conference” However, the delegation has not shared details of the Taliban team’s visit to Islamabad, he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Qureshi in an interview with Turkish News Agency has highlighted the fear for a civil war in Afghanistan, saying it is “the last thing anyone wants,” if there is no agreement and political settlement. He further added that, the stakes are very high for such an advancement because if no political settlement or agreement is made, there lies a chance of going back into the 90s. The fear of Afghanistan going into a civil war is looming over the region and that is the last thing any regional country wants, especially Pakistan because Pakistan has paid a huge price because of the unstable environment in Afghanistan. On the other hand, if there’s progress, there can be peace, there can be stability, and the region collectively will benefit from the outcome of a peace process.
Though the details of Shaikh Abdul Hakim Haqqani’s discussions with Taliban leadership in Pakistan are not clear yet, but Pakistan’s influence is seen as prominent in Kabul. And many in Afghanistan share the view that Pakistan has influence on the Taliban and can encourage the group to return to the talks. If Pakistan meets the promises made in the discussions in Kabul, and effectively plays the significant role in bringing Taliban to the table, not only will the Pak-Afghan relation will reach new heights with increased mutual trust and support, but also, Pakistan’s significant role in the Afghan Peace Process will be remembered in history.
© Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Afghan Studies Center (ASC), Islamabad.
