ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said Afghan Taliban had expressed willingness for reduction in violence.
In a video message, he said, “This is a step toward peace agreement in Afghanistan.”
The foreign minister said talks between the United States and the Taliban had been continuing for some time and Pakistan desired some progress in the talks.
Also Read: US envoy apprises FM Qureshi about details of US-Taliban talks
He said Islamabad believed that Pakistan, Afghanistan and the region needed peace and stability.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan had considerably fulfilled its responsibility regarding the Afghan peace process. He said we desired that the entire region moved towards peace, which benefited both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
On Dec 13, US Special Envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had relayed FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi about the details of the US-Taliban talks.
Talking to Khalilzad who had called on him in Islamabad, Shah Mahmood Qureshi had assured that Pakistan would continue to sincerely play the role of facilitator in the Afghan peace process.
The foreign minister had noted that peace in Afghanistan was imperative for peace and stability in the entire region.
On Nov 29, FM Mahmood Qureshi had said Pakistan had welcomed US President Donald Trump’s continued willingness to pursue political settlement in Afghanistan by resuming dialogue with Taliban.
He had said it was a positive development, which would help in establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as in the region.
The foreign minister had said that Pakistan would continue to facilitate Afghan peace and reconciliation process in close consultation with all the stakeholders.
Talking to Reuters News Agency, Taliban had expressed their readiness to restart peace talks with the United States.
A spokesman of Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid had said that talks will be resumed from the stage where it stopped.
Earlier, talking to newsmen during his brief visit to Afghanistan, President Donald Trump had said that Taliban wanted to make a deal and he believed they would agree to a ceasefire.
On Oct 3, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban had agreed on the need for earliest resumption of the Afghan peace process.
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