Afghan govt working to resolve issues with Pakistan

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Senators in the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) on Sunday said the Afghan government needs to raise people’s concerns in their discussions with Pakistani officials and find ways to settle disputes.

This comes after President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday officially invited the Pakistani prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to visit Kabul. Ghani has also called on Islamabad to hold direct negotiations with Afghanistan in a bid to resolve problems between the two countries.

The Afghan government expects to find a solution to the differences between the two countries through direct negotiations between the leaders from both nations, the Presidential Palace (ARG) said on Sunday.

Deputy presidential spokesman Dawa Khan Menapal said: “The Pakistani prime minister is invited to reach a conclusion about state to state talks, the peace process, war on terrorism and regional ties.”

Afghanistan has been persistently saying that reaching any political settlement with the Taliban requires honest cooperation by Pakistan.

“I think the delegation that came here was just a ruse and it is just a waste of time and to keep the people of Afghanistan busy,” said Gulalai Akbari, a member of Afghanistan’s Meshrano Jirga in reference to a visit on Saturday by Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua.

Janjua, who led a high-level delegation to Kabul, held talks with Afghan leaders on peace and bilateral ties.

“Such visits will not have any outcomes,” said senator Nisar Haris.

Meanwhile a number of experts have said there is a need for more pressure to be put on Pakistan and the Taliban to hold purposeful talks. “We hope that these talks and meetings leave positive results,” said senator Haseebullah Kalimzai.

“The Pakistanis must be asked if you (Pakistan) want to cooperate with us, then Pakistan should put pressure on Taliban to accept a ceasefire,” said senator Mohammad Hanif Hanafi.