ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday told an international conference on Afghanistan that the ongoing efforts for political solution to the Afghan conflict should produce results. Special secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Shah Jamal, in a veiled reference to the series of meetings between Taliban political envoys and US officials in Qatar Geneva Ministerial Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, said the “renewed international focus on peace in Afghanistan, through Afghan-led and Afghan owned political negotiations is a great opportunity that we cannot afford to miss.” “Pakistan has not only coined this phrase, but has worked hard during the past years to make it an agreed theme for our collective vision to end the conflict in Afghanistan,” he said at the conference in the presence of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. Outside the conference hall, ethnic Hazaras staged demonstration against the Afghan government and the demonstrators chanted slogans against president Ghani. President Ghani told the delegates that his administration seeks a peace agreement in which the Afghan Taliban would be included in a democratic and inclusive society, respecting the constitutional rights and obligations, of all citizens, especially women, are ensured. He said his government has formed a 12-person negotiating team comprised of both women and men, and led by presidential chief of staff Rahimi, a man with both eminent Jihadi and civil society credentials. “We also formed a peace advisory board to input into the negotiations as they happen. The advisory board consists of nine diverse committees representative of Afghan society today,” Ghani said, adding the High Peace council will be restructured to focus on post-peace scenarios and play an advisory role The Pakistani delegate said on the occasion his country is not only a major stakeholder but also the main beneficiary of peace in Afghanistan. “Our security is inextricably linked to the security of Afghanistan; our dream of regional connectivity cannot be realized without peace in Afghanistan; and sustainable and dignified repatriation of around 3 million Afghan refugees depends largely on restoration of peace in the country,” he said. Jamal argued Pakistan has consistently said for 17 long and painful years that only a politically negotiated, Afghan-led and owned peace process based on an inclusive political process would end the suffering of the Afghan people. “Ground realities, given the protracted nature of the conflict, are now leading all stakeholders to the same conclusion,” he said. He pointed out that terrorism is a common enemy and a serious concern for the world community, adding after the people of Afghanistan, it is the people of Pakistan who have suffered the most from this menace. “We, in Pakistan, have taken decisive law enforcement action against all terrorist groups, without distinction. Through our sustained campaign, we have successfully cleansed our entire territory from organized presence of terrorist networks. This accomplishment however came at a tremendous cost in blood and treasure for Pakistan. We have sacrificed over 75,000 lives and suffered economic losses over $123 billion,” the Pakistani delegate maintained. He said Pakistan has also extended unmatched and consistent support to the US and Afghanistan in rooting out the menace of extremism and terrorism from the region. He said Pakistan has taken practical steps to help Afghanistan attain economic self-reliance, which includes development assistance of over $1 billion, in social and economic sectors to help build capacity of the Afghan people. “Pakistan has provided 6000 fully funded scholarships for Afghan students in its best universities. We are also providing professional training to Afghan officials and professionals in various fields.” Pakistan, he said, has created a highly favourable environment for Afghan exports to Pakistan with the objective of helping Afghan economy stand on its own feet, adding Pakistan is the largest market for Afghan exports, accounting for over 60% of the total exports. He added that the waiver of regulatory duties resulted in 29% increase in Afghanistan’s overall exports to Pakistan. Published in Daily Times, November 29th 2018.