PM Imran meets Taliban delegation, calls for reduction in Afghan violence

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday called for Aghan sides to work on reduction of violence in the war-torn country.

PM Khan was talking to a delegation of Taliban Political Commission (TPC), headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who called on him here at the PM House.

Khan the Intra-Afghan Negotiations provide a historic opportunity to the Afghan leaders for achieving durable peace and stability through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

“The discussions focused on the progress in the Afghan peace process and the way forward,” a statement from the media office of the Prime Minister said.

Reiterating that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed hope that the Afghan parties would continue to build on the recent positive developments in the Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

The Prime Minister underscored Pakistan’s consistent support to an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement. He also underlined the need to be vigilant about the role of spoilers, who continue to make attempts to disrupt and derail the peace process.

He expressed concern over the high level of violence and called on all sides for a reduction in the violence leading to a ceasefire. He said the return of peace and stability in Afghanistan would provide a strong impetus to economic development, regional integration, and connectivity, benefitting Afghanistan and the region.

The TPC delegation’s visit was part of Pakistan’s serious efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process to achieve a peaceful, stable, united, independent, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan.