KABUL - Some Mesharano Jirga or Senate members on Tuesday questioned the renewed push to revive peace talks ahead of winter and stressed intra-Afghan talks and an end to Pakistan’s interference in this regard.
Earlier reports emerged that Afghan government and Taliban representatives held secret talks in Qatar and that a Taliban delegation from Doha visited Pakistan.
The developments followed a historic peace deal between Kabul and the Hizb-i-Islami (HIA) Afghanistan, led by former prime minister Gulbadin Hekmatyar.
The reports had claimed the Taliban delegation travelled to Pakistan to brief Pakistani officials about their negotiations with Afghan officials in Qatar.
The Taliban, however, rejected the claim and said their delegation visited Islamabad to discuss issues related Afghan refugees with Pakistan.
Senator Afzal Shamel told today’s session that why peace talks became a hot issue every year when winter was in the air.
“We want peace but through an intra-Afghan process in which Pakistan has no involvement.”
He asked advisor to Pakistan prime minister on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz to leave Afghanistan on its own because Afghans had the ability to find their way forward.
He asked the Afghan government to prevent Pakistan’s interference in Afghanistan’s internal matters because Islamabad saw Taliban as partner in the war-torn country.
Senator Nisar Haris said: “We don’t need Pakistan’s help in the peace process. Reconciliation talks should move forward through Afghan channels.”
Nader Baloch, another lawmaker, in a veiled reference to Pakistan said that under the pretext of peace talks, Afghanistan’s neighbor wanted to halt ongoing Afghan security forces operations against Taliban.
Senate’s First Deputy Chairman Sakhi Dad Naeb asked the government to stop Pakistan’s middling in Afghan internal affairs and peace talks and not to allow militants to get advantage of the opportunity to strengthen.
He asked the government heads to be cautioned and not to be deceived by Pakistan.(Pajhwok)