Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special envoy for reconciliation in Afghanistan, said Pakistan had played a key role in persuading the Afghan Taliban to negotiate peace and urged them to reduce violence.
"Pakistan has been instrumental in
what we have done over the last two years, and they have encouraged the Taliban
to negotiate with the government and they have encouraged the Taliban to reduce
violence," he said. In an interview with local media, Khalilzad said he
had also been helpful in negotiating with Afghan leaders.
"And we are urging Afghanistan and
Pakistan to sign an agreement that neither side can use its territory against
terrorist groups or extremist groups." And I hope we get results in that
as well.
"The fact is that for the first time
in 42 years, Afghans are at the table. This is a moment of hope and
opportunity," he said. "But this moment is not without its
challenges."
Peace talks between the Afghan government
and the Taliban began in Doha, Qatar, last month, and deadly violence continues
in Afghanistan.
Khalilzad broke an agreement between the
US and the Taliban in February. He said the United States had
"tested" the Taliban.
"No, we don't take them for
granted," he said. "We've asked them to work on terrorism, and
they've taken some of the steps we've recommended. It's an ongoing process ...
they're not where we want them to be. "But we will not give up. Until we
are satisfied that they have actually acted on terrorism and other things that
they have committed."
He said both Afghanistan and the United
States should avoid the mistakes of the 1990s. "As far as the United
States is concerned, we will not make the mistake that was made after the
Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was to leave Afghanistan," he
said.
Meanwhile, Abdullah, chairman of
Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), said he was
willing to talk to the Taliban in the interest of building consensus and
finding a peaceful solution in Afghanistan.
Abdullah's comments in an exclusive
interview with Saleem Safi on the Geo News program "Jirga" came in
response to the question of why he was not talking directly to the Taliban.
"Inside Afghanistan, we need to build
consensus - among the people under the banner of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan - which is important. At the same time, we need to build consensus
in the region."
"I am directing all efforts for peace
and reconciliation and if the time comes, if need be I talk to the Taliban
leaders and they agree, I will do it," Abdullah said.
The Afghan leader said he was in constant
touch with the negotiating team.
Talking about the agreement reached
between him and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, he said that despite being a
foreign guarantor, he would not deviate from the agreement.
"When the two leaders decided to work
together, it was based on a common understanding," Abdullah said.
"Unity is the need of the hour for the Afghan people," he said.
Talking about the peace deal, which faces
many obstacles, he said both sides - the Afghan government and the Taliban -
have decided to resume talks after "almost three decades of
fighting".
"Through war, there is no winner and
through comprehensive peace, there is no defeat," he said. He added:
"Personally, I would have preferred it to go faster.
The Afghan official said the people were
waiting for the results - a reduction in violence and a ceasefire.
Highlighting Pakistan's role in the
intra-Afghan talks, he said: "We appreciate Pakistan's role in the Doha
Accords and later in the negotiations."
"I am also grateful to Prime Minister
Imran Khan for his message calling for a reduction in the violence resulting
from the ceasefire, which is very important," he said. He added that he
thanked the Pakistani leadership.
The Afghan official said that he was
leaving Pakistan with a positive image of the country and he had no doubt that
peace in Afghanistan would lead to peace in Pakistan and ultimately in the
region.
Asked if not all the various regional
powers are part of the peace talks, he said: "As a whole, all countries
are supporting a peaceful agreement."
When asked if Biden, who comes to power
after the US presidential election, poses a threat to the peace process, he
said that despite differing views, both leaders (US President Donald Trump and
Biden) "We support a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan."
"It will not be possible to go back
to the old days of tens of thousands of troops," he added.
"This issue is urgent for us, for
Afghanistan and for Pakistan and for the region as a whole," because if we
do not secure a peaceful settlement, we will suffer the most. "
Abdullah was also asked’ what
opportunities he sees for strategic cooperation between Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
"Matters start with small steps.
There are grievances on both sides, but there has been progressing in the dialogue
and status of relations between the two countries, and even these small steps
have had a huge impact," he said. will have."
"As neighbors, we have no choice but
to work together."
The Afghan leader said that as more and
more parties would address each other's legitimate concerns and work on the
basis of common interest, mutual interest would be just as good.
He lauded the visa policy recently approved
by the Cabinet, which he termed as a good development on this front.
"It will help people in their
relationships," Abdullah said.
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