Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States on Friday agreed to form a group of experts to explore ways and means to arrange safe passage for Afghan Taliban militants who opted to engage in meaningful talks. During a tripartite meeting, officials of the three countries informed reporters about the outcome of the two-day tripartite meeting, which concluded here on Friday.
"Pakistan has a very important role to play for peace in Afghanistan and for this reason we are here today," Ambassador Marc Grossman remarked. He said that the US government was very clear about the necessary outcome of such a peace process and would include Taliban and other insurgents who break ties with al Qaeda and abide by the Afghan constitution.
He said: "We welcome the co-operation and engagement of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the peace process...We will reaffirm our support for the Afghan peace process. Our shared goals are to open doors for Afghans to sit down with other Afghans to talk about the future of their country." Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Jalil Jilani said that Pakistan and Afghanistan reviewed developments with regard to the promotion of the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace and reconciliation process.
He said the formation of the group exploring safe passage was a tangible accomplishment. An important aspect of the group will be establishment of the sub-group on the safe passage, Jilani said. "We agreed that Afghanistan and the region as a whole were passing through a defining moment as the country has entered the transitional phase. Together we reviewed developments with regard to the promotion of the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace and reconciliation process. We also discussed the next possible steps in the peace process," said Jilani.
Reiterating support to the Afghan government's efforts to achieve peace and stability in the country, he said that it was a core national objective for Pakistan. Stressing the need for working jointly for building mutual trust and respect, he said that issues such as return of refugees, improved border management and illicit drug-trafficking had also been discussed.
Deputy Foreign Minister Afghanistan Jawed Luddin said that they worked on the very crucial process of the trilateral co-operation among the three countries. "We had a very comprehensive agenda. This is a reflection of a very broad relationship and co-operation that exists between the three countries", said Jawed, adding that Afghanistan peace process was very urgent.
"Our request is to utilise whatever opportunities are available and to focus on co-operation on the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. We are grateful once again for Pakistan's support and we recognise that there are very important steps ahead of us that have to be taken to give peace a chance," he added.
Reminding the serious nature of terrorists, he said: "I very much second the two initiatives that have taken in the form of sub group in this very core group in New York, at the level of permanent mission. (It) is very important place because in New York, we need to be engaged with United Nations...on the question of delisting of Taliban leaders and others that can be a very useful contribution to the peace process."
"We also welcome the second initiative on safe passage," he added. Luddin said: "We had a very comprehensive agenda in the meeting and only if I pick one or two points, one was on the question of the return of refugees. Our economies are integrated and Pakistan is our single largest economic partner in the region and we would like to avail all opportunities especially at the level of trilateral co-operation to encourage further trade, investment and economic co-operation."
"We would really like to engage Pakistan and Afghanistan into TAPI gas pipeline which is a very crucial project. We appreciate United States' continuous support in that and other regional projects that we believe, will really transform the region once realised." Replying to a question, Grossman said that where they are today and where we were a year ago in terms of trust among the three parties on the question of Afghan peace process.
Jilani said that Pakistan would be happy to facilitate the inner process that would bring about peace and stability in Afghanistan. Grossman said that the purpose of the US in having any contact is only to have fast track conversation among Afghans about the future of Afghanistan. Luddin said that objective in the peace process is to engage in negotiations with Taliban and with other groups and to talk to them about the future of Afghanistan and that they have faith in the current political process.