Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, Foreign Affairs Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other FO officials were present for the meeting.
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi restated that the ongoing Afghan war can only be resolved through dialogue.The high-level Afghan Taliban delegation meet the Pakistani leadership, According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office (FO).
Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, Foreign Affairs Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other FO officials were present for the meeting.
During their meeting with the foreign minister, the delegation of the Taliban Political Commission (TPC) in Doha discussed the regional situation, the Afghan peace process and other issues of mutual interest.
Qureshi noted that the Afghan Taliban had praised Pakistan’s role in the peace process and the attendees were unanimous in agreeing to quickly restore talks.
According to a press release issued by the FO, Qureshi welcomed the delegation at the ministry. The minister told the delegation that Pak-Afghan ties are based on brotherly relations, historical, religious and cultural links.
Qureshi said, “Instability in Afghanistan is impacting both Islamabad and Kabul.” He added that Pakistan believes that war is not the solution to the situation in Afghanistan and dialogue is the only way forward.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan was glad that the world has finally accepted their stance on the situation in Afghanistan.
The foreign minister said, “Pakistan has played an honest role in search for peace in Afghanistan.” He added that a peaceful Afghanistan is necessary for regional stability.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen, while speaking to Geo News, said, “We are negotiating with Pakistan on a peaceful solution to the Afghan conflict.
The Afghan delegation is being led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. The visit also coincides with United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad’s visit to Pakistan. It is expected that the two have agreed to hold a meeting in Islamabad on their visit.
According to the FO, this is the first visit of a Taliban delegation to Pakistan since the establishment of the TPC.
The FO had revealed a deal earlier that an Afghan Taliban delegation was to visit Islamabad to review progress under the stalled US-Taliban peace talks.
“Both countries are equally facing the consequences of instability in Afghanistan over the past 40 years,” Qureshi was reported as telling the delegation. He also said that Pakistan understands that war is not the solution to any problem.
