Chairman Afghan Peace Council, Salahuddin Rabbani, who arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit in a bid to foster reconciliation process through joint efforts, on Monday sought release of a key Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, besides a date to formally kick off the peace talks, it was learnt.
Sources familiar with the development told Business Recorder that during talks with Pakistan's top civilian and military leadership, Rabbani also raised the issue of Afghan Taliban currently believed to be in the country's jails and sought their release to take the reconciliation process forward. Some 200 Afghan Taliban are believed to be in Pakistan's custody, however, Pakistan has repeatedly denied having Afghan Taliban in its custody except Mullah Baradar. During the talks, the sources said that the two sides discussed the aspects of release prisoners including Mullah Baradar, who was captured from Karachi in February 2010.
They said that the two sides also exchanged views on a possible date to initiate the peace talks for the reconciliation process in which Pakistan is expected to play a vital role. Before holding delegation level talks with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, the Chairman Afghan Peace Council along with members of his delegation also called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the Prime Minister's House and discussed with him matters of bilateral interests.
According to a statement of the PM House, the Prime Minister, while welcoming the Afghan delegation, said that the people of Pakistan had a special place for late Burhanuddin Rabbani. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the delegation, during its current visit, would hold discussions with Pakistani officials which will pave the way for closer relations between the two countries.
He said that there was consensus in Pakistan that both Afghanistan and Pakistan should work together for peace in the region. The Chairman Afghan Peace Council thanked the Prime Minister for inviting the High Peace Council to Pakistan. Rabbani said that the people of Afghanistan were grateful to the people of Pakistan for the assistance extended to them during their struggle against Soviet Union.
Referring to the attack on Malala Yousafzai, the Prime Minister said "the whole world has been shaken by the Malala incident". Rabbani commenting on the Malala incident said that the attack on a 14-year old innocent school girl shows how vulnerable the attackers have become.
Dilating on the incidents of shelling on the borders both the leaders agreed that there should be increased co-ordination between the two countries to stop such incidents in future. The Prime Minister said that both the countries have to work together and leave a legacy for our coming generations which is peace. The Prime Minister assured the Afghan delegation that the government of Pakistan would do all what it takes for a peaceful Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and other government officials were also present during the meeting. Later, the two sides held delegation level talks in which Pakistan's side was led by Foreign Minister Khar and Rabbani led his country's delegation.
Foreign office sources said that the two sides held in-depth discussions on various issues pertaining reconciliation process, and re-affirmed the historical, cultural and religious bonds of friendship that exist between the two countries. They also discussed the Afghan peace process in great depth, renewing the commitment by the two countries to work together towards an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process involving the different armed groups and Afghan Taliban to end the years long conflict.
The two sides shared the view about the desire and determination of the Afghan people to put an end to violence and bring lasting peace to their country, as affirmed in the Peace Jirga of July 2010 and the Traditional Loya Jirga of November 2011, saying it must be complemented by result-oriented regional and international cooperation. In this context, both sides expressed the hope that Pakistan's support to the Afghan peace process would contribute to durable peace and stability in Afghanistan. Both the sides agreed to have a conducive environment for the peace and reconciliation process to move forward for the purpose they recognised the importance of pursuing multiple channels of communication and contact with the Afghan Taliban and other armed opposition groups. In this context, they emphasised international support for the Afghan peace process.
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