Afghan peace talks may resume in January

During General Sharif’s visit, the leaders agreed to hold a quadrilateral meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the U.S. early next month to chart out a comprehensive roadmap for “meaningful peace”. The reconciliation process was suspended on July 30 after it became public that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had been dead for over two years. The maiden round was held in the first half of July in Murree close to Islamabad. 

Dawn reported quoting a source that there will be a series of quadrilateral meetings in January, leading to resumption of talks with Taliban. It said the venue and the level of representation will be decided by the four countries. 

An official here did not discount the possibility of the Afghan reconciliation talks getting under way next month. Both sides realised the urgency of reaching a political settlement that could end violence in the country, he said. 

It was agreed during General Sharif’s talks with President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah that ’reconcilable’ Taliban elements would be engaged, while the others would be dealt with in “a mutually agreed” manner, Pakistan army spokesman Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa said.