ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, during a meeting with Afghanistan’s Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, said that the talks provide a chance to create a long-lasting peace in the area.
“Intra-Afghan talks provide a unique opportunity to the leadership for establishing lasting peace in the country,” the foreign minister said at the Foreign Office.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said lasting peace can only be achieved through a political settlement accepted by the people of Afghanistan,” Qureshi said, adding that Pakistan would continue to play its part in facilitating the peace process.
Hekmatyar has come to Islamabad for a three-day visit. According to a statement issued by the FO, the Afghan leader discussed bilateral relations and the role of Pakistan in the peace process with the foreign minister.
During his three-day visit, the former Afghanistan prime minister, who is accompanied by his son Habibur Rehman and several other party leaders, will call on President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Hekmatyar, who is visiting on the invitation of the FO, will also meet Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser amongst others.
The visit of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar will provide an opportunity for [an] exchange of views on the Afghan peace process and strengthening of Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations as well as people-to-people interaction,” the FO said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Furthermore, Hekmatyar will speak at a policy think tank during his visit. Hekmatyar served two terms as the prime minister of Afghanistan, the FO believes this speaking event will be a good chance to improve relations between the two countries, as well as discuss views regarding the Afghan peace process.
The FO said that Pakistan attached great importance to its fraternal relations with Afghanistan rooted deep in shared history, faith, culture, values and traditions. “Pakistan fully supports all efforts for peace, stability and prosperity of the Afghan people,” it added.
The visit comes nearly three weeks after the official trip of High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) chairman Abdullah Abdullah — Afghanistan’s top envoy for the ongoing negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban — as Pakistan is engaged with all Afghan stakeholders for the sake of the peace process.
According to Arab News, Hekmatyar will also meet Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Senator Sirajul Haq.
Hekmatyar’s son described the visit as “very important” because of Islamabad’s “key” role in the peace process.
“As Pakistan’s role is a key to the peace process, so we want to have a better understanding with Pakistan,” he said. “We will discuss the difficulties in the peace process and how to remove the obstacles, and how to make the peace process successful.”
Last month, Hekmatyar had expressed his willingness to form an alliance with the Taliban in war-torn Afghanistan.
“Hezb-e-Islami is ready for direct talks with the Taliban, as well as for partnership and cooperation. We believe that if these two groups join hands, the crisis in Afghanistan will end soon and no force will be able to stand against it,” he had said.
“When the first round of talks between Kabul [the Afghan government] and the Taliban is completed, we are ready for the Hezb-e-Islami and the Taliban to start talks. The decision now rests with the Taliban.”
The Taliban are yet to comment on the offer.