Pak asks Taliban to join direct talks with Afghan govt

In its first public appeal to Taliban and other Afghan militant groups, Pakistan today asked them to "turn a new leaf" and join direct talks with the Kabul government under a peace process aimed at ending the decade- old war in the neighbouring country.

The appeal was issued by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who said he was doing it in response to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's request for assistance in the peace process.
"In this spirit, I would like to appeal to the Taliban leadership as well as to all other Afghan groups, including Hizb-e-Islami, to participate in an intra-Afghan process for national reconciliation and peace," he said.

In a statement, Gilani said it was Pakistan's "sincere hope" that the Taliban, Hizb-e-Islami and other Afghan political leaders would "respond positively to my appeal and agree to enter into direct negotiations in the framework of an intra-Afghan process for reconciliation and peace."

Pakistan will support an "authentic Afghan process and is prepared to do whatever it can for its success," he said.

Gilani asked the international community to fully support national reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan.

"We are appreciative of the important initiative taken by President Hamid Karzai and wish the intra-Afghan process every success," Gilani said.

Gilani's appeal came days after Karzai again invited the Taliban for direct talks with his government and requested Pakistan to facilitate negotiations aimed at finding a political solution before the US and its allies pull their troops out of Afghanistan in 2014.

Taliban officials have begun contacts with the US in Qatar but the militants have so far refused to talk to Karzai's government.

In his appeal, Gilani said the time had come to "turn a new leaf and open a new chapter in the history of Afghanistan."

It was also time to combine the strengths of the Afghan people in the true spirit of Islam and in accordance with their traditions to build peace and bring prosperity to Afghanistan, he said.

Karzai had sought Pakistan's help for the peace process in his country when he telephoned Gilani on February 21.

Pakistan was "duty bound to respond positively" to Karzai's appeal, Gilani said.
"Pakistan has always held that there is no military solution to the problems of Afghanistan. We have also stated that it is important to create conditions conducive for a grand intra-Afghan settlement, based on national reconciliation that involves the Afghan people without any distinction," Gilani said.

Referring to Pakistan's "multiple bonds of affinity" with Afghanistan, he said Islamabad wants to have the "best of relations" with Kabul.

Stability, peace and national reconciliation in Afghanistan are critical for regional peace and stability, he added.

"A sovereign and independent Afghanistan, well on the road to a peaceful and prosperous future, is indeed critical for Pakistan and for our region," Gilani said.

Pakistan believes that "adherence to the principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan are of critical importance," he added.

Gilani maintained that the reconciliation process in Afghanistan "must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned."

He said: "It is imperative to promote an intra-Afghan consensus for a durable political settlement that accords with the aspirations of the people of Afghanistan, as a whole."
Ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan nose-dived following the assassination of Afghan High Peace chief Burhanuddin Rabbani, which was blamed by Afghan officials on Pakistan-based elements.

The charge was denied by Islamabad.
In recent weeks, Pakistan has taken steps to re-engage Afghanistan on the peace process but lingering suspicions remain on both sides.

US and Afghan officials have accused Pakistan's security establishment of supporting Afghan militant groups like the Haqqani network in a bid to influence the endgame in Afghanistan.