The main focus of the discussion will be the Afghan peace process, which is currently stuttering due to violence
Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Kabul for his first official visit to Afghanistan after assuming power in 2018. Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar and Ghani’s special envoy for Pakistan Omar Daudzay received Khan at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The main focus of the visit will be on the Afghan peace process. Khan is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and adviser on commerce and investment, Razzaq Dawood.
Imran concerned about violence in Afghanistan
Imran Khan expressed his concerns about the increasing violence in Afghanistan as the peace process between the Afghan Government, and the Taliban is stuttering.
“The whole idea of coming to Afghanistan is to assure you that people of Pakistan and the government of Pakistan have just one concern,” a concerned Imran Khan said. “Unfortunately, violence has increased in Afghanistan.”
Afghanistan on the same page
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also emphasized that the people of Afghanistan want nothing but peace. He said that it is the need of the hour to realize that violence will not resolve any problem.
“A comprehensive political settlement for enduring peace within the framework of our values and constitution in the Islamic Republic [of Afghanistan] is the way to the future,” he said. “All of us need to understand that resorting to violence is not the answer.”
Afghanistan’s peace process
Talks between the Taliban and the Afghan Government have been taking place in Qatar. However, due to some disagreements and an upsurge in attacks by the Taliban factions, talks are stalling. Pakistan has played its role to keep the two sides on the negotiation table and cool the situation down. Earlier in March, the U.S. and the Taliban reached a peace agreement.