KABUL - In a fresh overture, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has asked Islamabad to take pragmatic measures against Afghan Taliban using Pakistani soil.

A well-placed source in the government told Pajhwok Afghan News that the president had dispatched a letter recently to civilian and military officials of the neighboring state.

Another source said that the president had demanded Pakistan to initiate eight steps against Taliban in the next three weeks and demonstrate sincerity to move the stalled Afghan peace process forward.

In the letter, the source added, Ghani urged Pakistan to put Taliban leaders under house arrest, barring them from any activity.

Pakistan must also conduct operations against Haqqani network, destroy Taliban safe havens on its soil and should not treat wounded Taliban fighters, were among other demands mentioned in the letter.

Pakistan should also issue formal statement condemning Taliban’s spring offensive codenamed Azm, the source added. No formal statement has been issued from Pakistani side so far.

The Pakistan Army in a statement, however, has said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended an important meeting at the ISI headquarters along with Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif. (Pajhwok)