Pakistan backs Afghan talks, Bajwa tells US special envoy.

Byline: Baqir Sajjad Syed

ISLAMABAD -- Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said Pakistan's support for the Afghan reconciliation process is a proof of its sincerity for peace in Afghanistan.

Talking to US Special Envoy for Afghan Reconciliation Dr Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday, the army chief said: 'Our support towards peace process is a manifestation of our goodwill towards the cause.'

Dr Khalilzad was visiting PakisAtan after a meeting with Taliban leaders in Doha and a stopover in Delhi, where he met Indian ExterAnal Affairs Minister SubrahmanAyam Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

The Indian leaders, according to reports in Indian media, blamed a recent spike in violence in Afghanistan to alleged 'sanctuaries' on Pakistani soil and emphasised their elimination. The Indian allegations have come in the backdrop of renewed terror accusations against Pakistan in India-held Kashmir.

Pakistan has strongly rejected all Indian allegations and has asked the United Nations to seek proofs from India about the alleged 'launch pads' and 'infiltration bids' at the Line of Control.

Khalilzad scheduled to return to Doha for resumption of negotiations with Taliban

Dr Khalilzad, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), praised continuing Pakistani efforts for peace and stability in the region.

India, despite the special envoy's recent visits to Delhi, is uneasy because its viewpoint on Afghanistan is getting little weightage in Washington.

Pakistan had facilitated long-drawn US-Taliban talks, which culminated with the signing of a landmark peace deal in Doha in February between the two adversaries that have been at war for 19 years. Under the deal, the Afghan Taliban gave counterterrorism assurances and agreed to engage in dialogue with the Afghan government for...