Diplomacy

Khan vows to help bring Afghan Taliban to peace talks

Pakistan Forward and AFP

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on July 23. [Alastair Pike / AFP]

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on July 23. [Alastair Pike / AFP]

WASHINGTON, DC -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to meet with Afghan Taliban leaders upon his return home and encourage them to join peace talks with the Afghan government.

Khan spoke Tuesday (July 23) at the US Institute for Peace in Washington, DC, on his first official visit to the United States, where President Donald Trump hosted him at the White House a day earlier.

Khan said he had been contacted by the Afghan Taliban "a few months back" after his election in July 2018 but did not take a meeting at that time because Kabul opposed it.

The militants reached out to him "because I always maintained there was no military solution" to the war in Afghanistan, he said.

Speaking at the US Institute for Peace on July 23, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to help bring the Afghan Taliban to peace talks with the Afghan government. [Pakistani prime minister's office]

Speaking at the US Institute for Peace on July 23, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to help bring the Afghan Taliban to peace talks with the Afghan government. [Pakistani prime minister's office]

"So because of that, I had a certain amount of credibility amongst them," Khan said.

After meeting with Trump and speaking with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Khan said, "Now I will meet the Taliban and I will try my best to get them to talk to the Afghan government."

Peace talks should lead to "an inclusive [Afghan] election where the Taliban … also participate", he emphasised.

Another round of talks begins

Khan's comments came as US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad left for another round of peace negotiations in Kabul and Doha, Qatar.

Khalilzad has had several meetings with the Taliban over the past year, the most recent being on July 9 in Doha.

So far, the major hurdle has been the Taliban's refusal to negotiate directly with the Afghan government.

"It's not going to be easy because there's no centralised command; it's a devolved movement," Khan said about the insurgent group.

"But we feel that if we all work together, we feel this is the best chance of there to be peace in Afghanistan."

"We should not ever interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan," Khan said. "Let the Afghans decide what they want, what sort of government they want, and we should facilitate the peace process."

"Now, we're all on the same page. And fortunately, now the United States is on the same page too," he said.

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26 Comment(s)

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A 20 yrs ,stand of Imran Khan proved True for Afghan peace

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Hi i am Nasir Waqas and my qualification IC-S and i want to join tigerforce and help the poor men and help in my country in this condition.THANKS

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My name is Altaf Manzoor I am ready to join tiger force

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My name mohammad jaffar shaikh i am ready to join tigher force qualified entire medical

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Hi i am Fakhar and my qualification FSC_ll med and i want to join tigerforce and help the poor men and help in my country in this condition.THANKS

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I am ready for tiger force in pakintanii young man

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I love our prime minister sab

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I love you imran khan sahb

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my name is rizwana .want to join in tiger force to serve my nation.I love pakistan.im proud of our prime minister imran khan sab.God bless u sir

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Proud of PM

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God bless you pm khan

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Greetings, I want to join The Tiger Force.

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Proud of pm Imran Khan

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Greetings, my name is Umer. I want to help people by joining the Tiger Force.

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I'm proud pm imran khan

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My prime minister is very good

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Excellent work to bring all elements on Table.

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Own house

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I love Imran KHAN IAM pruod pm Imran KHAN

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We are blessed having a imran khan as a PM of pakistan....pakistan proud of u imran khan

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PM khan is brave leader and have full support of Pakistan nation

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Very nice and helpful for everyone Imran khan

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Greetings, I want to tell Mr. Khan that I may do anything for my Pakistan; I wouldn’t even care if it even costs my life. I live in Lahore and study in 12th grade; assign me some job where I may scarify my life for this dearest Pakistan.

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Yes

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This is a best ever move by I.K/ Pakistan to resolve the issue between Afghan Taliban And Afghan Govt. As it also ivolves the interest of the Amaricans who also want an escape from Afghanistan

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