challenges to the talks, the key word according to Aziz is “continuation of the procedure”.
The Pakistan Army has also cautioned that certain elements, most of them wrapping themselves in cloak of rhetoric, feel peace in Afghanistan could undermine their vested interests and they might try to sabotage the peace process. “There are many detractors of the Afghan peace process. Peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest and the Afghan government has the same interest. So, those people should be identified who believe this peace process doesn’t serve their interests,” Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations, stated in an interview.
How did the Foreign Office see the talks, termed as a forerunner of peace in a country ravaged by decades of war? Sartaj Aziz told a newspaper that the peace talks were “extremely gainful. It was first run through Afghan government authorities and the Taliban sat over the table. The discussions were open. It is a decent starting and we will perceive how it continues.” He called it a leap forward, a development most Afghan watchers agree to.
Definitely, it was the efforts by Pakistan that facilitated the landmark peace talks between the Afghan government officials and Taliban representatives.Understandably, the Pakistan government besides the army officials firmly believes there should be peace in Afghanistan and support the process which should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. They also say the Afghan government should have total control over the process.
While according to some there are limitations to the Murree peace process, or it is a hazardous venture, it is imperative that it should continue and be supported across the board. The fact that Pakistan is helping Afghanistan to bring peace and stability in the country should be appreciated and supported; the sincere efforts by Islamabad cannot be termed as a cynical exercise in political opportunism. Elements in Afghanistan scathing about the talks and claiming that Pakistan is in an undeclared war with their country are doing a disservice to their country. Nevertheless, the road to peace is long and arduous but no party in Afghanistan can ill afford to run the risk of continuous violence in the country. — Waqar Ahmed