Janjua says Taliban have no pretexts for war

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Terming the recent efforts for Afghan peace as an exemplary opportunity, Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Nasir Khan Janjua said on Saturday that the Taliban had no more pretexts for war.

Janjua said this in a meeting with Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdullah Abdullah at his office.

According to a press release issued by the chief executive’s office, both the leaders discussed various key issues, including steps to patch up ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, peace process owned and led by Afghans and the rocket attacks of Pakistan from the other side of the Durand Line into eastern provinces of Afghanistan.

Terming peace as a basic demand and need of the Afghan people, Dr Abdullah said that the government had provided an opportunity to the armed opponents for peace.

The terrorist groups have their personal agendas, he said. He hoped that countries would not form and utilize terrorist groups for their interests.

He said the government of Pakistan should take prompt steps to utilize the fresh opportunity for patching up its ties with Afghanistan.

On the occasion, Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Nasir Khan Janjua said they hoped success for the Afghan peace process. He added that the government of Pakistan supported the recent efforts of the Afghan government for the restoration of peace.

He said they were keen for the formation of joint technical teams between Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that it would help eliminate hurdles in the relations of both the countries.

Terming the recent opportunity for Afghan peace as exemplary, he said the Taliban had no more pretexts for the continuation of war.

Both the leaders also discussed a joint decree of Afghan and Pakistani clerics to term the ongoing war in Afghanistan as illegitimate.

Earlier, Nasir Khan Janjua met Afghan National Security Advisor Muhammad Hanif Atmar and President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani.