Pak role for Afghanistan peace talks imperative: Ex-Taliban
31 January, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Former Taliban commander Akbar Agha Monday said that Pakistan's role in any talks for the promotion of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan is very important. "Being an important neighbouring country, the role of Pakistan is essential for stability of Afghanistan and it can never be overlooked", the former Taliban commander said. In his rare telephonic interview with Online from Kabul, Agha, who was the leader of a Taliban splinter group Jaish ul-Muslimeen before he was arrested in 2004, said that Taliban talks with Afghan government are also important but regional understanding can guarantee its success. Akbar Agha is also cousin of Taliban top negotiator Tayyab Agha who is holding talks with US officials in Qatar. "It would be a welcome move by Islamabad if it offers help to Kabul in negotiation or Afghanistan and Pakistan jointly hold talks with Taliban," he said. He declined to comment on Taliban's talks with the US officials in Qatar, however, he said that negotiations among foreigners, regional countries, and Taliban are also important. "Iran, Russia and other regional countries' understanding are pre-requisite for peace in Afghanistan," he further said. To a question about the conditions that could cause success or failure to any possible talks among Kabul, Islamabad and Taliban, he said that generally in the prevailing situation it would be hard to sense as what exactly would guarantee success in talks. "Nevertheless, at least all know that starting from some point is necessary. let first start the process and then things could be moulded in accordance with the situation," he advised. On the reported sense of deprivation of Islamabad and Kabul being ignored by US as Washington started talks with the Taliban directly in Qatar, he said that such analysis are speculations of media and "we are not sure as how accurate they are". He said that whatsoever be interest of the foreign countries but the ultimate victim of any failure of peace would be Afghans. Therefore, all the countries should support a peace process-owned by Afghans themselves. The Taliban leader Akbar Agha, arrested from Karachi and handed over to Afghanistan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for kidnapping three UN workers in the Afghan capital in 2004. He was released from Pul-e Charkhi jail after detention of almost 5 and half years. He was reportedly one of "hundreds of Taliban prisoners" across the country released by the President to mark Eid al-Fitr in September 2009. Pakistan is trying to strengthen its relations with Kabul. In his recent press briefing Foreign Office spokesman had said that Foreign Minister Khar visit would not only mean to bilateral relations but also aimed at trilateral or quadrilateral issues. Khar visit to Kabul is expected on February 1 (tomorrow) and certain reports claim that one of the important aims of this visit is to prepare ground for talks among Taliban, Karzai administration and Islamabad. The claims say that talks among them would start in Saudi Arabia. However, neither side has confirmed such claims so far. End.
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