Talks with Kabul on peace process under way: COAS

KHYBER AGENCY - During his meeting with tribal elders in Landi Kotal, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday assured them that all issues faced by the tribal people will be addressed.

According to ISPR, General Bajwa said that Pakistan Army fully supports

mainstreaming of FATA and shall pursue it in line with aspirations of the tribal brothers.

Talks regarding peace process are under way with Afghanistan, he said, adding, that Pakistan Army will try its best to ensure law and order in Tribal Areas of the country.

He further announced that job opportunities will be provided to tribal people, whereas, funds worth Rs one billion will be spent for uplift of the areas.

General Bajwa also visited Corps Headquarters Peshawar.

At Corps HQ, the COAS was given detailed briefing on security situation in FATA/KP and progress on Operation Rudal Fasaad, return of TDPs and development works.

In Khyber Agency, the army chief saw progress on fencing along Pak-Afghan border.

The COAS also interacted with troops and hailed their sacrifices for peace.

He assured them that ongoing consolidation efforts shall take the current gains towards enduring peace and stability.

Commander Peshawar Corps and IGFC KP were present during the visit.

PAK-AFGHAN NSAS MEETING TODAY

National Security Advisers of Pakistan and Afghanistan are scheduled to meet in Kabul on Saturday (today) to discuss security-related issues and cooperation in peace process in Afghanistan, Afghan sources said in Islamabad on Friday.

Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar has invited his Pakistani counterpart Lt-Gen (Retd) Nasir Khan Janjua for talks on bilateral matters, mainly focusing on security cooperation, they said.

The meeting will be held two weeks after Pakistan threw weight behind Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's dialogue offer to the Taliban.

The Taliban have not commented on Ghani's offer; however, efforts at different level are underway for the political solution to the Afghan conflict.

Taliban political office in Qatar confirmed in January that Taliban political representatives Pakistan to discuss the country's proposals for political process.

Uzbekistan has planned to host an international conference in Tashkent on peace in Afghanistan later this month. Indonesia will hold a conference of religious scholars from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia to explore ways for the clerics role in the peace process.

The United States and regional stakeholders are of the view that Pakistan role is key to the political process; however, Pakistani officials insist that the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban is an "Afghan affair" but it is ready to facilitate the process.

 

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