Daily Times

Former interior minister and Senate Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Senator Rehman Malik has lauded the role of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in US-Taliban peace talks.

In a statement, he said that Pakistan has always desired peace in Afghanistan which is not only in the best interest of both countries but also beneficial for the whole South Asia. He said the peace process with the support of Pakistan is inching toward success which is a great news for Pakistan and Afghanistan in particular and for world in general. He said this time US looks to be very serious because of directives of President Donald Trump. “I have few observations for the directly and indirectly involvement in this process,” he said. Rehman Malik asked that who will be the guarantor of the ceasefire and will Afghan President Asharf Ghani step down to make a national government along with Taliban? He asked that what would be the impact of serious differences between Abdullah Abdullah and Asharf Ghani on this deal. He observed if the ongoing US-Taliban talks is part of the strategy to use the disputed election to accommodate Taliban in a national government, whereas there is no provision of interim government in the Afghan constitution.

He said the stable, consistent and highly diplomatic role of Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad continues to this mission who with great patience engaged all the stakeholders to achieve the goal despite of many odds and difficulties. Senator Rehman Malik said it will be a great achievement of President Donald Trump before general elections in US that will leave positive political impacts on his forthcoming campaign and subsequently his vote bank may increase.

Senator Rehman Malik said that while considering Pakistan’s great role in successful peace talks between US and Taliban, the US either withdraw the baseless complaint it had lodged against Pakistan in FATF or use its influence to get Pakistan cleared from FATF.