Pakistan lauds US engagement in Afghan peace process
Sat 18 Apr 98 - 11:05 GMT
ISLAMABAD, April 18 (AFP) - Pakistan on Saturday welcomed US engagement in Afghanistan, saying it hoped Washington's renewed interest would boost Islamabad's efforts to end the 18-year Afghan civil war.
Pakistan has long been in contact with the United States which had "unfortunately" disengaged itself from Afghanistan "after having used the Afghans against the former Soviet Union in bringing an end to the Cold War," a foreign office spokesman said.
Islamabad welcomes "the changed US attitude which is a direct consequence of the lead role that Pakistan has always played towards an Afghan settlement," he told a news briefing.
He said the consent given by warring factions to special US envoy Bill Richardson on Friday to a truce and open dialogue by April 27, was the result of "susbtantive spadework done by Pakistan" to promote the Afghan peace process.
Richardson had praised the "positive role" of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his government in making the discussions successful.
"Prime Minister Sharif played a very important role in this agreement and I want to say thank you to him and his government," Richardson told a news conference on his return here from Afghanistan.
Pakistan, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban government in May last year, eight months after the hardline Islamic militia seized Kabul and established control on two-thirds of the country.
The Taliban came under fire over restrictions on the education and employment of women and failed to get further diplomatic recognition.
The Afghanistan seat at the United Nations is currently held by the ousted government of ex-president Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The spokesman said the Taliban had told Richardson they would not launch any military offensive unless they were attacked. They also agreed to open girls schools and set up university for women if funds were available.
They will discuss a ceasefire and the exchange of prisoners at a steering committee meeting by April 27, the spokesman said.
The Taliban, which in December agreed to a meeting of Ulema (Moslem clerics) to discuss the Afghan problem in accordance with the Shariat (Islamic laws) last month, nominated five members to the steering committee, the spokesman said.
The opposition has also given a list of its delegates and "we are awaiting confirmation" for the start of negotiations, he said.
The steering committee meeting may lead to the formation of the Ulema's commission to discuss political issues confronting the rival groups.
The spokesman said the Taliban were ready to allow female doctors, medical personnel and teachers to work.
The militia officials are expected to resume negotiations with a UN team on Monday to discuss the ground rules for UN operations in Afghanistan, he said.
However, he pointed that "the main Taliban grievance is that that they have not been given assistance to carry out their social and economic reforms."
Pakistan also urged the United Nations to play a central role and establish its credentials as an impartial mediator with the Taliban, the spokesman said.
©AFP 1998