Afghanistan responsible for failed peace talks, says Pak diplomat

The News International

By Wajid Ali Syed

June 15, 2016

Print : National

WASHINGTON: Afghanistan's internal political rift and lack of consensus on various issues have been the main causes of delay in the Kabul-Taliban peace process, according to Pakistani diplomatic officials here.  
"Despite efforts by Pakistan, the peace process in Afghanistan has not move forward due to the internal political dynamics, absence of a national consensus in support of the reconciliation process in Afghanistan and other internal problems," a spokesperson for the Pakistani embassy, Nadeem Hotiana, told the Washington Post.
He maintained that Pakistan government has attempted to bring Taliban and Afghan leaders together for a series of meetings and over time hosted and facilitated both sides to strike a deal, but the process has not taken off. In a statement sent to the paper, he said "the situation was further complicated due to the mixed signals emanating form Afghanistan on the dialogue process, worsening security situation, corruption and other administrative problems."
The Pakistani official was reached out by the paper to comment on an interview of the former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai published yesterday in which Karzai blamed Pakistan for the failures and asked the US to "coordinate a sustained policy of pressure on the Pakistani government, together with China, Russia, India and Iran, to force Taliban leaders to join hoped-for peace talks."
Hotiana said the Pakistani government still believes that a negotiated peace deal was the only way to bring peace in Afghanistan. He added that close coordination between Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States was needed for the stalled talks to move forward. "Pakistan would remain committed to any peace process that is inclusive and has the support of all Afghan factions," he said.
Diplomatic sources backed Hotiana's statement saying that this has been the stated position of the government for a long time, and was reiterated recently when an American delegation visited Pakistan recently. The US delegation comprised of Ambassador Ricahrd Olson, Special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; and Peter Levoy, a senior official at the National Security Council. Pakistan has pointed these issues out on all different levels with the State and other departments in our numerous meetings, the sources said.
The sources added that Afghanistan has also failed to take action against the TTP and has complicated security situation for the region. Pakistan, on the other hand, has launched major military operations against terrorist groups in its border regions.