MOSCOW - Pakistan is making sincere efforts in bringing the Taliban militant group to the negotiations table with the Afghan government to achieve lasting peace in the country, Khawaja Asif, the defense minister of Pakistan, told Sputnik on Wednesday.
"It is joint effort making it possible to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan and we do anything that on our part to bring the different stakeholders on the table. We are planning to arrange another meeting. Things are moving in a right direction. This is a very delicate situation but Pakistan is a part of these efforts and Pakistan is keenly and sincerely making efforts that the Taliban is brought at the table," Asif said on the sidelines of the fifth Moscow Conference on International Security.
Formed in the 1990s, the Taliban seeks to enforce Sharia law in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. The group is known for numerous terrorist attacks against authorities and civilians in both countries.
Pakistan is mediating peace talks between Afghan authorities and the Taliban insurgency. Pakistan hosted the first round of direct talks last summer, suspended over the 2013 death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
Members of the Taliban and Afghan government leaders were expected to engage in peace talks in Pakistan in March. However, 5, Taliban leadership announced refusal to attend peace talks until foreign soldiers left Afghanistan and Taliban fighters were released. (Sputnik)