Afghanistan urges Pakistan to help Taliban peace talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - Afghanistan's president has urged neighbouring Pakistan to help peace talks with the Taliban, but hopes were low in both countries that much progress would be made, Belfast Telegraph said.

Pakistan is seen as key to the process because of its strong historical ties with the Taliban. But Pakistan and Afghanistan have long had troubled relations and view each other with suspicion, especially with Kabul repeatedly accusing Islamabad of providing sanctuary for the insurgents.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was visiting Pakistan for the first time since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took office in June. Karzai told Sharif he expects the Pakistani government to "facilitate and help" talks between the Afghan High Peace Council and the Taliban.

Earlier the Afghan president described his expectations for progress during the visit, saying, "I am not confident, but I am hopeful." He indicated that previous visits to Pakistan had not helped improve security in Afghanistan, but "we must continue our efforts."

Karzai's visit comes after an attempt to jump start peace talks in the Qatari capital of Doha foundered in June. The Afghan president pulled the plug on the talks even before they began because he was angered that the group marked the opening of its Doha political office with the flag, anthem and symbols of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan - the group's name when they ruled the country.

The Taliban have held secret talks with Karzai's representatives to try to restart the peace process, but it is unclear if they have made any headway.