Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement regarding the Afghan peace was greatly appreciated by US special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday. A day earlier, Imran Khan said that there is a new wave of violence in Afghanistan and further assured Pakistan’s support for the peace process in the war-torn country.

Khalilzad tweeted, “Greatly appreciate @ImranKhanPTI’s statement yesterday on #Afganistan.”

He further said that the appeal by PM for the reduction of violence and policy against promoting internal conflict in other nations has [the] potential to positively transform the region and give #Pakistan a leading role.

Pakistan had promised to maintain objectivity in the Afghan conflict and also condemned the Taliban’s spring offensive and intensified security operations by Afghan forces.

PM said in the statement, “The so-called offensives are condemnable and will undermine the peace process. It is not right to seek an edge in dialogue through coercion.” He further added, “Pakistan is highly dismayed by the surge of violence in Afghanistan from all sides.”

The statement was made as a United Nations report revealed that more Afghan civilians were killed by NATO and Afghan security forces than Taliban and other terrorist groups in the first quarter of 2019. The report said that 305 civilians were killed by NATO and Afghan forces, while terrorist groups were responsible for the killing of 227 people.

The UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan documented 581 deaths, including 150 children, between Jan 1 and March 31 this year. Civilian casualties were mostly caused by air strikes and ground search operations by the security forces.

Taliban this month announced the spring offensive, whereas the security forces intensified their crackdown. This has led to a sharp escalation in the fighting between the two sides.