Pakistan assures U.S of its continued support for Afghan peace

ISLAMABAD, January 21: Pakistan has assured the United States of its role seeking a political solution of the lingering conflict in Afghanistan amid reports that the US and Afghan Taliban are close to striking a peace deal after over yearlong painstaking process.
The Afghan peace process was one of the agenda items during a meeting between the visiting US chief diplomat for South Asia, Ambassador Alice Wells and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood at the Foreign Office on Tuesday.
Ambassador Wells is on a four-day tour to Pakistan as part of ongoing consultations between the two countries on a wide-range of issues covering bilateral ties as well as other regional and international issues.In September last year, the US and Taliban had almost agreed to sign the framework agreement but President Trump walked away from the deal at the last minute, citing Taliban’s continued attacks targeting the American servicemen. Since then the US has been pushing Taliban to agree on a ceasefire or at least reduce the level of violence in order to take the process forward. Recently, the Afghan Taliban indicated that they were willing to reduce the level of violence, paving way for the much-awaited peace deal. However, it is believed that the US wants Taliban not to restrict the apparent truce only for few days. Efforts are being made to convince the insurgent group at least to announce a one month ceasefire.Pakistan is thought to have been playing a key role in the negotiations.-Agencies