Daily Times

Pakistan on Thursday pressed for the implementation of the agreement between the United States and the Taliban to for solution to the Afghan problem.

The Taliban and the US signed the agreement for peace in Afghanistan in Qatar in late February that paves the way for withdrawal of all foreign troops.

The agreement faces challenges as the intra-Afghan dialogue that was scheduled to start on March 10 could not start due to differences over the release of 5000 Taliban prisoners.

Violence has also increased in Afghanistan since signing of the agreement and the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack in front of a defense ministry facility in Gardiz city, the center of eastern Paktia province. Officials said at least five civilians were killed while 19 other people including five security personnel were injured.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Gardez attack was response to Ghani’s announcement.

“Pakistan believes that the US-Taliban Peace Agreement has provided a window of opportunity to the people of Afghanistan to work together for the ultimate aim of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. We hope that the Peace Agreement is implemented in its entirety so that it leads to the next stage of Intra-Afghan negotiations,” Aisha Farooqui, Foreign Office spokesperson said at her weekly briefing in Islamabad.

The spokesperson was asked about her comments about the Taliban rejection of calls for humanitarian ceasefire and increased attacks on government forces and Afghan President Ghani’s orders to forces to switch from active defensive mode to offensive mode and to resume attacks on the Taliban.

She said there is no proposal under consideration by Pakistan to host intra-Afghan negotiations in Islamabad but said efforts are underway to help get the intra-Afghan negotiations initiated, which is the next logical step after the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement.

“We hope that these efforts are successful at the earliest” she said, adding Pakistan and Afghanistan share the ultimate objective of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

“Pakistan has always supported a peaceful, democratic, united, stable and prosperous Afghanistan connected with the region. Both countries maintain regular contact on issues of mutual concern. Pakistan hopes that a lasting peace will be established in Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said.

To a question concern by the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and traders from both sides at the negative impact on transit and bilateral trade due to restrictions on cross border movement of trucks, she said a number of steps have been taken in this regard to facilitate the movement of people and cargo trucks and containers.

Pakistan has opened border crossing point at Chaman and Torkham to ease cross border movement of trucks, said, adding the current mechanism is functioning and any modification in it to enhance trade between the two countries will be considered after implementing all necessary protocols related to COVID-19.

When asked about the Pakistan-Iran border fencing work and the level of cooperation between the two countries to stop the terrorists from exploiting the joint border, Farooqui said the two sides also remain in touch to ensure that criminal elements do not get any space to create misunderstanding between the two countries.

The spokesperson said relevant authorities from both countries have been in coordination to manage the regular flow of people and enhance bilateral trade Pakistan and Iran share common border of more than 900 kilometers.

Replying to a question on the Indian Army Major (Retd) Guro’s recent statement regarding Indian involvement in Balochistan, the spokesperson said such statements reaffirm what Pakistan has been stressing about Indian state-terrorism and its Intelligence Agency RAW’s involvement in sponsoring and conducting terrorist activities.

“Our law enforcement agencies have foiled several terrorist plans linked to RAW. The international community must take notice of Indian illegal actions,” she said.