KABUL - The High Peace Council (HPC) said on Monday that recent efforts undertaken by the U.S., Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could mark critical steps toward the restoration of longstanding peace in Afghanistan and the signing of the Kabul-Washington security pact.
Washington has reportedly begun new efforts alongside its allies - Pakistan and Saudi Arabia - to accelerate the peace negotiation process between the Taliban and Kabul.
The Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal arrived in Islamabad Monday after holding bilateral talks with his U.S. counterpart John Kerry in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The focus of the agenda for his meeting with Pakistani officials was said to be the modality of Afghan peace talks.
"The trip of the U.S. Secretary of State to Saudi Arabia and the trip of the Saudi Foreign Minister to Islamabad and their working agenda is peace negotiations between the Taliban and the HPC," Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar, the AHPC advisor for international relations, said regarding the recent efforts toward peace.
The announcement comes at a time when the Kabul-Washington Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) remains unfinalized, with President Hamid Karzai refusing to sign the deal that would ensure a long-term military partnership with the U.S. after the NATO combat mission ends in December.
Karzai has demanded that before he sign the accord the U.S. first ensure some initial progress in Taliban peace talks as well as halt all unilateral operations involving Afghan homes.
On Sunday, in a lunch meeting with the eleven Afghan Presidential tickets, Karzai spoke about the pending BSA with the U.S. and assured the Presidential hopefuls that the agreement would be signed soon.
"We are on the eve of signing the defense and security agreement with the U.S., if we evaluate these developments, fortunately there are some positive movements," Qasimyar said.
Members of Parliament's Commission on International Relations and analysts have expressed optimism about the recent moves made by the U.S., Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in attempt to accelerate the peace process.
"We support any positive effort undertaken by Saudi Arabia for peace restoration in Afghanistan, but we prefer to focus more on bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan," political analyst Mahmoud Saikal said.
Saudi Arabia has not been as much of a mainstay player in the reconciliation process as Pakistan or the U.S., however, some think it could provide a unique kind of support, being revered as the birthplace of Islam.
"Saudi Arabia has always played a role in Afghan history and also Saudi has an ideological status among the Islamic countries and it could play an effective role in the peace negotiation process," MP Nahid Farid said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were both among the few countries of the world that officially recognized the Taliban regime during its rule prior to the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. It is thought that the two countries continue to maintain influence inside the Taliban.