First shun violence...Haqqani, other groups can join Afghan peace process: Hoagland

While hailing Pakistan's decision of releasing Taliban detainees, United States Charge de Affairs Richard Hoagland Thursday said that any terror group including Haqqani network can join Afghan reconciliation process after denouncing violence.
Talking to reporters after addressing participants of a workshop on how entrepreneurs can access finance to expand their businesses, organised by US Embassy, Hoagland welcomed the agreement reached Wednesday between government of Pakistan and Afghan High Peace Council that also includes release of Afghan Taliban, terming it an important move for the reconciliation process to be led and owned by Afghans.
The joint statement, issued by Foreign Office after holding talks with members of the High Peace Council delegation, stated "Pakistan and Afghanistan will work closely with other international partners to remove the names from the UN sanctions list of the potential negotiators amongst Taliban and other groups to enable them to participate in peace talks
To a question whether efforts would also be made to bring Haqqani network to the table talks, which has recently been designated as terrorist group by the US, Hoagland said that Afghanistan has already made it clear that any group that is willing to denounce violence and terrorism, support the constitution of Afghanistan and guarantee the human rights for women and minorities in the country, can join the reconciliation process.
He said that anyone who meets these conditions will certainly be part of political reconciliation process in Afghanistan. "Anyone means anyone", he added without naming Haqqani network, the armed group which the US believes to have set-up safe havens in Pakistan tribal areas.
The US diplomat also lauded Pakistan's role as an important player in assisting the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Earlier, addressing the participants of the workshop, he said entrepreneurship is the economic engine of this country, adding, "In fact, most of the new jobs are created in start-ups and small businesses so workshops like this are vital venues for entrepreneurs from both our countries to connect, build skills, and learn about how to succeed in business."
"The US Embassy acknowledged the hard work of Pakistan's entrepreneurs," said Murtaza Zaidi Hon, a Pakistani entrepreneur. "These workshops encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation. They are helping many graduates, who would otherwise be unemployed, to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and to discover financial independence", he added.
According to a spokesperson of the US Embassy, during a weeklong series of workshops sponsored by the US Embassy and held at Abasyn University, the United States is helping talented Pakistani entrepreneurs sharpen their business skills, bring new products and services to market, and achieve profitable growth. This week, more than 720 aspiring Pakistani entrepreneurs attended the workshops to learn the nuts and bolts of running a successful business and to pitch their business ideas to potential investors from the US.
The embassy partnered with the US-based Kauffman Foundation, the largest foundation dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship in the world, to carry out these workshops in celebration of "Global Entrepreneurship Week"? the State Department's global celebration of the innovators who bring new products and services to the marketplace.
The United States works with Pakistani universities and partners in the private sector to promote the growth and development of entrepreneurship. In addition to workshops with Abasyn University, the US has worked with the National University of Sciences and Technology to establish business incubators, helping telecommunications and alternative fuels entrepreneurs launch their companies in Pakistan.
The spokesperson further added that the initiative is just one part of a comprehensive US economic assistance program, which creates jobs and boosts incomes with projects that expand Pakistan's agricultural output, build roads to facilitate trade, and offer a private equity fund to help small-and medium-size businesses growth.