Kabul, Afghanistan: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa along with Director General ISI Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed on Tuesday held talks in Kabul with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan.
According to DND News Agency, the top military leadership of Pakistan arrived in Kabul on a day visit in connection with the Afghan Peace process talks. Pakistan has been performing its role of peace in Afghanistan for decades and is a focal point among positive developments going on since the Afghan Peace deal penned in Doha.
Pakistan’s importance for peace in the region can be gauged by the fact that US representative Ambassador Khalilzad visited Pakistan 13 times since Sept 2018. He held detailed talks with COAS of Pakistan Gen Bajwa also on June 8, 2020.
COAS Gen Bajwa held separate talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as Abdullah Abdullah.
Welcoming Pakistan’s CoAS, Gen. Qamar J. Bajwa to @SapedarPalace, we held productive talks & stressed on the unique opportunity to further the cause of peace in AFG & stability in the region as the HCNR & Afghan leaders take necessary steps toward intra-Afghan negotiations. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/PeekCZbSRO
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) June 9, 2020
2/2 Gen. Bajwa expressed Pakistan’s support for our efforts & earliest possible start of I/A talks. I told him that we are ready to engage with the Taliban on our common issues to end conflict & live together in peace. I reiterated on Pakistan’s constructive role in this regard. pic.twitter.com/dVUW8PSacC
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) June 9, 2020
After talks, Abdullah Abdullah said that they held productive talks and stressed on the unique opportunity to further the cause of peace in Afghanistan and the stability in the region as the Afghan leaders take necessary steps toward intra-Afghan negotiations.
“I told him (COAS Gen Bajwa) that we are ready to engage with the Taliban on our common issues to end conflict & live together in peace. I reiterated on Pakistan’s constructive role in this regard,” said Abdullah Abdullah.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) President Ghani and COAS Gen Bajwa discussed bilateral issues, border management, and the Afghan peace process during their meeting.
Pakistan’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq was also present in during meetings.
Meanwhile, Afghan media reported that Afghan President Ghani during meeting appreciated the role of Pakistan for peace in Afghanistan and stated that no peace was possible without the active support of Islamabad.
It may be mentioned that Pakistan had been demanding the US for talks with all stakeholders for peace and always believed that only negotiation could bring peace in Afghanistan since 2001 when the US along with its allies attacked Afghanistan. After 19 years of unending and dreadful war, United States understood the reality that Pakistan’s viewpoint was accurate and based on the reality of the land.
Official Statement of ISPR is hereunder:
General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), held one-on-one meetings with President Ashraf Ghani and Chairman High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah during his visit to Kabul on Tuesday 09 June 2020.
COAS was accompanied by PM’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Affairs, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq. Both sides discussed current developments in Afghan Peace Process and necessary steps to be undertaken to facilitate an Afghan led and Afghan owned peace process. Issues related to facilitation of trade and connectivity also came under discussion. Both sides agreed that a dignified and time-bound return of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan is key towards normalcy.
President Ashraf Ghani expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister of Pakistan for opening of Torkham and Chaman border for allowing Afghan transit goods and facilitating stranded Afghans to return to Afghanistan by land and air routes. The President was also appreciative of the role being played by Pakistan for Afghan Peace Process.
