PAKISTAN: AFGHANISTAN

Headline

Pakistan and Taliban to discuss intra-Afghan peace on Tuesday.

Intro

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister says Taliban have been invited to Islamabad to find “a coordinated, considered approach for moving forward” towards peace in  Afghanistan.

Story

Shotlist:  ISLAMABAD , PAKISTAN     (AUGUST  24, 2020)    (VNA  – ACCESS ALL)

1. ROAD  OUTSIDE PAKISTAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING
2. CARS ENTERING FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING
3. SIGNBOARD OF PAKISTAN’S FOREIGN MINSTRY
4. PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI  ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE
5. VARIOUS OF REPORTERS
6. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI, SAYING:  
7. “ We have to move forward, keeping the peace and security of the region in mind. And we are moving ahead. We have invited them (Taliban) once again. Tomorrow, God willing, we will have a meeting with them. What transpires in that meeting, I will be able to inform you in the future , God willing. However, I have done one more thing. During my recent visit to China, while I talked about Kashmir, I also held detailed discussions about Afghanistan with the Chinese Foreign Minister.”
8. REPORTER’S HANDS TAKING NOTES ON CELL PHONE
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI, SAYING:    
10. “ I talked to the Chinese FM about the Afghan Peace Process. China is supporting the entire  process; China is playing a very constructive role in this; China is also keeping in touch with them because it is a neighbor and an important country of this region . I have requested that China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan should be sent to Islamabad as soon as possible. The Foreign Minister has given instructions , and after the Taliban, he will be coming so that we have coordinated, considered approach for moving forward.”
11. REPORTERS
12. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI, SAYING:    
13. “ A large section of Afghan people believe that Pakistan can play a positive role in the peace, progress and prosperity of Afghanistan . This is because of Pakistan’s behavior towards them in the past; how Pakistan gave refuge to millions of Afghan refugees, how we looked after them, their health, their well being and education. They remember that. But there is an element. Obviously there is an element. Our neighbor in the east would not want that the situation should improve. I have repeatedly said on various international forums that there are spoilers; and those spoilers are not far off. And their objective is to  give rise to misunderstandings, to bring forth any past misgivings. They keep trying all the time, but there is a new reality dawning. I believe that a large majority of the Afghan people, and the rulers also, want  peace now.”
14. REPORTERS
15. END OF NEWS CONFERENCE

 

STORY:   Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday (August 24) said Pakistan has invited key members of the Taliban's negotiating team to Islamabad, where senior officials will discuss the Afghan Peace Process.

“ We have to move forward, keeping the peace and security of the region in mind. And we are moving ahead. We have invited them (Taliban) once again. Tomorrow, God willing, we will have a meeting with them. What transpires in that meeting, I will be able to inform you in the future , God willing,” Qureshi told a news conference in Islamabad.

 

Qureshi said he had also discussed the Afghan situation with his Chinese counterpart during his recent visit to China.

“ I talked to the Chinese FM about the Afghan Peace Process. China is supporting the entire  process; China is playing a very constructive role in this; China is also keeping in touch with them because it is a neighbor and an important country of this region . I have requested that China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan should be sent to Islamabad as soon as possible. The Foreign Minister has given instructions , and after the Taliban, he will be coming so that we have coordinated, considered approach for moving forward,” he said.

 

The Taliban and the Afghan government have been holding talks since last month , but the process has become locked over a prisoner exchange.

Kabul has released about  4,680 insurgent prisoners while the Taliban say they have freed 1,000 members of Afghan security forces.

However, differences have arisen over a few hundred prisoners, with Kabul reluctant to release what it says are dangerous Taliban fighters who have been involved in deadly attacks in the past.

Qureshi said a large number of Afghans are grateful to Pakistan for its support to millions of Afghan refugees who had fled fighting in their country and have been given refuge in Pakistan for several decades.  

“ A large section of Afghan people believe that Pakistan can play a positive role in the peace, progress and prosperity of Afghanistan . This is because of Pakistan’s behavior towards them in the past; how Pakistan gave refuge to millions of Afghan refugees, how we looked after them, their health, their well being and education. They remember that,” he said, adding:

“But there is an element. Obviously there is an element. Our neighbor in the east would not want that the situation should improve. I have repeatedly said on various international forums that there are spoilers; and those spoilers are not far off. And their objective is to  give rise to misunderstandings, to bring forth any past misgivings. They keep trying all the time, but there is a new reality dawning. I believe that a large majority of the Afghan people, and the rulers also, want  peace now.”

Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have remained frosty, with the Afghan government frequently blaming Islamabad for allegedly sheltering, funding and supplying the Taliban.

Pakistan, which was one of only three countries to recognize the Taliban government, always denies this allegation.