Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Pakistan willing to push Taliban to make peace
Published in Daily News Egypt on 02 - 02 - 2012

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign minister said Thursday that the country would be willing to push the Taliban and their allies to make peace if asked to do so by the Afghan government, an action seen as key to the reconciliation process.
Pakistan's role is vital because it has strong historical ties with the militant group, which many believe continue to this day, and insurgent leaders are thought to be based in the country. But there are also limits to what Islamabad can accomplish since the Taliban have been notoriously difficult to control and are wary of Pakistani influence.
The peace process has picked up momentum in recent months with the Taliban's decision to set up a political office in the Gulf state of Qatar to facilitate negotiations. But progress has been limited, hampered by distrust between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said full-fledged peace talks were still "miles away" and could only begin once the Afghan government determined how the process should be structured.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai initially opposed the US-backed move by the Taliban to set up an office in Qatar, worried he was being sidelined by Washington in the peace process. Rumors have swirled recently that Karzai's government was seeking direct talks with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia, but the group rejected those reports on Wednesday.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have also long had strained relations, with Afghan officials accusing Islamabad of allowing the Taliban and their allies — especially the feared Haqqani network — to use Pakistani territory to wage their insurgency.
Tensions flared further last year with the assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former Afghan president and head of the government's peace council. Afghan officials blamed insurgents based in Pakistan and claimed they were aided by Pakistan's spy agency, the ISI. Islamabad denied the allegations.
The Pakistani foreign minister visited Afghanistan on Wednesday in an attempt to repair relations and discuss Taliban reconciliation. She was the first senior Pakistani official to travel to the country in months.
Karzai said after Rabbani's killing that peace talks with the Taliban were hopeless unless Pakistan did more to support the process, claiming only Islamabad could access the group's leaders.
When asked in an interview with a small group of foreign journalists Thursday whether Pakistan would push the Taliban and the Haqqani network to make peace, Khar said Pakistan is "willing to do whatever the Afghans expect or want us to do."
The process could be slightly awkward for Pakistan, however, because the government has long claimed that it has severed ties with groups. But many analysts believe Pakistan has continued the relationships as a way to counter the influence of its archenemy, India, in Afghanistan after foreign forces withdraw.
Khar declined to say whether Karzai or other Afghan officials specifically asked Pakistan to approach the Taliban during their meetings Wednesday. The Afghan president is scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-February, at which time they will discuss the process further, said Khar.
She said Pakistan has played no role in the reconciliation process so far, including the Taliban's move to set up an office in Qatar. She is scheduled to visit Qatar with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the coming days.


Clic here to read the story from its source.