Pakistani PM urges Afghan Taliban to join peace process

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for the Afghan Taliban on Tuesday to join direct talks with the Kabul-backed peace council aimed at ending the war in the neighboring country. Sharif made his first public appeal to the Taliban hours before his meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at a trilateral summit in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron will host the summit that will focus on Afghan reconciliation process. "We want the Taliban to become part of the peace process in Afghanistan. We want they should talk to the High Peace Council," Sharif told a group of Pakistani journalists in London, state radio reported. This is the second time a Pakistani leader has made a public appeal to the Afghan Taliban, who have so far refused to talk to the Karzai government on the ground that Kabul has no power. Former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had appealed to the Taliban to participate in the Afghan-led process for national reconciliation and peace in response to President Karzai's request for help in the peace process. Afghan government and its western allies believe that Islamabad still enjoy deep influence on the Taliban and can encourage them to join the peace process. Pakistan said it had facilitated the opening of the Taliban political office in Qatar in June. However the office was closed just days after its opening over the Taliban flag and plate of the Islamic Emirate, the name Taliban had used for their government. On appeal from President Karzai, Pakistan has freed nearly 33 Afghan Taliban detainees to push for the peace process over the past ten months. However, none of the freed Taliban has joined the peace process. Pakistan announced last month that it had freed senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on the appeal from President Karzai. However, Kabul says Mullah Baradar has not yet been allowed a free movement. Afghan officials say President Karzai will ask for whereabout of Mullah Baradar when he meets Sharif in London later on Tuesday. Sharif urged the Afghan Taliban not to keep themselves out of the intra-Afghan dialogue as this will bring stability to Afghanistan. "All sides should join the peace process. It will ensure stability in Afghanistan and stability there will bring stability to Pakistan and the whole region," Sharif said. He also stressed on Pakistani role in the Afghan peace process.