ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani military officials have said certain elements are looking to sabotage the Afghan reconciliation process amid optimisms to put an end in ongoing violence in Afghanistan following the recent talks between the Afghan officials and Taliban representatives in Pakistan.

Without disclosing further information regarding the elements trying to sabotage the Afghan peace process, the Pakistani military officials said the elements fear that peace process between the Afghan government and Taliban could undermine their interests.

Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations, told The Express Tribune “There are many detractors of the Afghan peace process. Peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest and the Afghan government has the same interest. So, those people should be identified who believe this peace process doesn’t serve their interests.”

Insisting on Pakistani army’s full support to Afghan peace process, Gen. Bajwa said “There is a political framework and a national thinking and Pakistan’s Foreign Office and the government represent it. The Pakistan Army also works in line with the same approach. It is a national decision. Every Pakistani is of the view there should be peace in Afghanistan and that the process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned so the Afghan government should have total control over the process and every segment should cooperate to serve this purpose.”

He also added that the military and political leadership were completely on the same page vis-à-vis the country’s Afghan policy.

“There shouldn’t be an iota of doubt about it. The political leadership says it will extend all possible help for the Afghan peace process. The military leadership says the same. And the Foreign Office also says the same thing,” Gen. Bajwa added.

Afghan officials met Taliban representatives on July 7 and 8 where the latter agreed to cease fire if Islamabad and Beijing guaranteed that a ‘united national government’ would be formed in Afghanistan, according to the paper.

The Afghan officials are expecting to hold second round of talks with the Taliban representatives after the holy month of Ramadan. (KP)