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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani over the phone on Wednesday to discuss progress in on-going intra-Afghan peace talks as an Afghan Taliban delegation arrived in Islamabad in the latest attempt to push forward negotiations between the insurgent group and the Kabul government aimed at ending decades of war.
The Taliban visit comes as the group’s attacks in Afghanistan have surged in recent weeks despite intra-Afghan talks that have been taking place in Doha, Qatar, since September. The talks are now suspended until January.
The peace negotiations follow a landmark deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in February, with Pakistan considered key in getting the Taliban to the negotiation table with American delegations and to ultimately participate in intra-Afghan talks.
“The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan,” a statement from Pakistan said. “In this regard, the Prime Minister welcomed the recent progress in the intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha.”
Speaking about the Taliban delegation’s visit, Khan said Pakistan’s outreach to all Afghan stakeholders, including the Taliban, was part of its “facilitative efforts to ensure progress toward an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.”
The two leaders agreed to continue their engagement to support the peace process and enhance bilateral cooperation.
Led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban delegation met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad, who emphasized the importance of all sides taking measures to help reduce “violence leading to cease-fire,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
Qureshi also said Pakistan would “continue to facilitate the Afghan peace process.”
The Taliban agreed to negotiate a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing formula with the Afghan government under the February US deal, in exchange for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan by May 2021.
The Afghan foreign ministry has said the Taliban delegation’s visit to Islamabad was taking place in consultation with the Kabul government and as a result of a November trip to Kabul by Prime Minister Khan, in which he vowed to help bring peace to the war-torn country.
“It is part of the efforts of strengthening of peace process and national reconciliation in Afghanistan and the government of Afghanistan appreciates such endeavors,” the Afghan foreign office said, adding that Kabul shared Islamabad’s expectations “for immediate reduction of violence, enforcement of nationwide cease-fire for achievement of a lasting peace through constructive talks.”
During their three-day visit, Taliban representatives are also expected to meet the Pakistani prime minister.
Some analysts say the Taliban are unlikely to agree to a comprehensive cease-fire yet, since violence and clashes with Afghan forces give insurgents leverage at the negotiation table.
Pakistan is seen as a key influencer of the Taliban, though it says its influence has waned in recent years.