ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast and sincere support to Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

He was talking to U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad who called on him in Islamabad.

The prime minister also underlined the need to overcome difficulties in this regard so that an enduring political solution to Afghan conflict could be achieved at the earliest.

Imran Khan stressed that it was important for all sides to take practical steps for checking violence in Afghanistan.

Also Read: Pakistan, Taliban lay stress on early resumption of Afghan peace talks

He said it was equally important to guard against the negative narratives and efforts by any quarter to undermine the progress made so far through painstaking efforts.

The PM said Pakistan would continue to play its role as a sincere and honest friend for establishing peace in Afghanistan.

He said achieving sustainable peace and security in Afghanistan and the region was in Pakistan’s best national interest.

On Oct 3, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban had agreed on the need for earliest resumption of the Afghan peace process.

The understanding came at a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and a delegation of the Taliban Political Commission (TPC) from Doha led by its head Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Islamabad. The delegation included senior members of the TPC.

The foreign minister had reiterated Pakistan’s commitment and continued strong support for all efforts regarding the peace process.

It was emphasized that reduction of violence by all parties to the conflict was necessary to provide an enabling environment for resumption of the peace process at an early date.