Afghan govt ready to hold talks with Taliban, says envoy

LAHORE: The Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Janan Mossa Zai, called on the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq at Mansoorah on Friday evening and discussed matters of mutual interest, particularly the beginning of a new era of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Both the leaders agreed that peace in Pakistan was the need of the entire region, and that the new era of development and prosperity would begin in the region after the withdrawal of US-led allied forces from Afghanistan.
Sirajul Haq said the people of Pakistan always had heartfelt love for their Afghan brethren and had always cherished the unflinching bond of Islam between them. He said the Pakistani people had sentiments of love and sympathy for their Afghan brothers instead of any particular party or leader, adding that his sympathies were with all the Afghan people instead of any individual or a party.
Sirajul Haq made it clear that any compromise on the region’s Islamic identity was neither made in the past nor it would be made in the future. The Afghan ambassador said the Kabul government was ready to hold talks with the Taliban or former Mujahedeen groups any time. He said Kabul’s doors were open for all the parties to the conflict and it wanted to hold talks with all of them to restore and consolidate peace in the country. Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Abdul Maalik, Ameerul Azeem, Hafiz Sajid Anwar and Muhammad Asghar were also present on the occasion.