KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani has called upon the Afghans to seize the recently emerged peace opportunity and take strong and concrete steps for durable peace in the country.
The president was talking to former jihadi.
Those met the president included former jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf, Mohammad Ismail Khan and Senate Chairman Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, a statement from the Presidential Palace said.
It quoted the president as saying that credible opportunities that had emerged this time for winning peace had never been witnessed in the past.
Ghani said the Afghan nation, benefitting from the opportunity, should take solid steps and work for a durable and lasting peace, which was their long-standing demand.
The statement said the former jihadi leaders expressed their views, recommendations and analysis about inclusive inta-Afghan peace dialogue and assured of their cooperation.
Reports say the Taliban’s Qatar office has been revived and initial talks between Taliban’s and the Kabul government’s representatives have begun in Doha, with Pakistan playing a facilitation role.
President Ghani’s call comes amid reports the Afghan Taliban’s top leadership has approved “preliminary peace talks” with his government.
“The Taliban representatives, who had been involved in talks with Pakistani and Chinese officials, had sought time for consultations with the senior leadership, which has now given a green signal,” a Taliban leader told Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune.
“Pakistani officials had advised the Taliban leaders to sit face-to-face with the Afghan government and put their demands to find out a political solution to the problem,” he said.
Some leaders, affiliated with the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, are expected to visit Pakistan soon for discussions to explore ways for the proposed peace dialogue.
“A small delegation will be visiting Pakistan in the coming days for further consultations,” a Taliban leader said, adding that the two senior representatives – Qari Din Muhammad and Abbas Stanakzai – will be among the team.
ma
