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Pakistan calls talks between Taliban, US a "major diplomatic victory"

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 27 Jan 2019

Pakistan calls talks between Taliban, US a "major diplomatic victory"

Islamabad: The Pakistan government on Sunday termed the recent negotiations held between US officials and Taliban as a "major diplomatic victory".

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his nation played a crucial role in bringing the Taliban leadership to the table.

The US and Taliban sat for negotiations in Qatar to end the 17-year US war in Afghanistan, reports said.

Zalmay Khalilzad, who was named by US President Donald Trump´s administration to find a way out of the war,  held negotiations with the Taliban representatives for six days.

“Pakistan played a vital role in bringing the US and the Taliban to the negotiation table," Qureshi told Geo News.

“We had decided to move forward with peace. The world has accepted Pakistan’s stance on the peace process," he said.

Zalmay Khalilzad said significant progress was made during the talks with Taliban representatives.

"After six days in Doha, I'm headed to #Afghanistan for consultations. Meetings here were more productive than they have been in the past. We made significant progress on vital issues," he tweeted.

"Will build on the momentum and resume talks shortly. We have a number of issues left to work out. Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, and “everything” must include an intra-Afghan dialogue and comprehensive ceasefire," the US representative said.

"Thanks to the Government of #Qatar for their constructive engagement and their facilitation of this round of talks. Particularly the Deputy PM and FM @MBA_AlThani_ for his personal involvement," he said.

 

Image: Wikimedia Commons