HPC urges Taliban to choose path of intra-Afghan dialogue

KABUL to renounce violence and choose the path of intra-Afghan dialogue for reaching their goals.

The peace body’s new leadership formally assumed office a day earlier at a ceremony attended by senior unity government officials including President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

The new leadership includes HPC chairman Pir Syed Ahmad Gilani, a spiritual and former jihadi leader, and his two deputies Mohammad Karim Khaili, a former vice-president, and Habiba Surabi, a former governor of central Bamyan province.

In a statement, the HPC said its new leader Gilani had once again called on the insurgents to pay heed to the calls for peace by the Afghanistan government and people.

The statement said the armed opponents should renounce violence and take the path of intra-Afghan negotiations for reaching their goals and should join hands with Afghans in rebuilding their country

It said the appointment of the HPC new leadership showed the unity government’s commitment to achieving a lasting, just and dignified peace. With the appointment of the new leadership, the HPC would intensify its efforts at paving the ground for direct talks.

The HPC said the unity government identified the peace process as its top priority and there was no doubt in the unity regime’s intention to bring about peace and stability to the country.

Looking at the peace process’s national, regional and international aspects, the unity government has been able to bring about a mobilization in this regard.

This fact was proved by the creation of the four-nation group and international consensus in support of the Afghan peace process, which raised hopes for early direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, it said.

The four-nation group including Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US on Tuesday held its fourth meeting in Kabul and announced that Pakistan will host direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban in early March.

But the Taliban’s Qatar office said it had not been contacted by anyone regarding the peace talks in Pakistan.

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