Pakistan welcomes Ghani’s dialogue offer to Taliban

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s dialogue offer to the Taliban.

“Afghan Taliban is a political entity and Pakistan supports the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban,” Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told the media in Islamabad.

Ghani unveiled his peace offer to the Taliban on Wednesday in his address to delegates from over 25 countries and international organisations in Kabul.

Ghani also offered to recognize the Taliban as a political party, allow them to open offices in Afghanistan, discuss the release of Taliban prisoners and mull removing names of their leaders from the UN sanctions list.

Asif said Pakistan desires peace and stability in the neighbouring country, adding there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict.

—IANS