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Afghan peace delegation to hold talks in Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 5, IRNA -- Members of the Afghan High Peace Council (HPC) will open talks in Islamabad on Wednesday on Pakistan's possible role in the Afghan peace and reconciliation efforts, officials said.

Former Afghan President and the Council Chief, Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani, is leading the 14-member delegation in its first visit to Pakistan since its announcement in September.

Sources said that the Afghan team is likely to hold meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi later in the day.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who travelled to Kabul last month, had extended invitation to Burhanuddin Rabbani to visit Pakistan and meet the political leadership.

The Afghan delegation will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and political leaders to seek their help in the reconciliation process.

Members of the delegation said ahead of the visit that they will also discuss the allegation by Afghan government that some Pakistani circles are supporting the armed opponents of the Afghan government.

Diplomatic sources said that the delegation consists of Qazi Amin Waqad, Masom Stanikzai, Haji Din Mohammad, Abdul Hakim Mujahid, Maulvi Ayttollah Ludin, Asadullah Wafa, Maulvi Asadullah Rahmani and members of the executive committee. Afghan sources say that the peace council will formally seek Pakistan's role for convincing the Afghan Taliban to come to the negotiation table.

Pakistan said in February that it has reached out to the Afghan Taliban as experts of Afghan affairs, believing Pakistan still has influence on the Afghan Taliban. Former warlords, tribal elders and women are among the members of the High Peace Council, aimed at making 'serious, substantive dialogue' efforts with the Taliban opposition.

Taliban have so far rejected any possibility of talks despite calls by the council's chief and Afghan President Hamid Karzai himself. Sources say that the council members will hold talks with the government officials and political and religious leaders to seek their help in the peace efforts.