OIC delegation, Taliban hold talks; leaves for Tashkent

ISLAMABAD (NNI): The OIC delegation has conveyed concern over continued hostilities in Afghanistan to Taliban and called for intra-Afghan talks to end the 20-year old Afghan conflict, a member of the OIC delegation said Wednesday.

The delegation, led by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr. Muhammad Jawad Zarif, held talks with Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Maulvi Syed Mohammad Haqqani in Islamabad.

"Zarif told the Taliban envoy that the OIC visit is aimed at finding ways for arranging talks among Afghan factions," a member of the OIC team said requesting not to be identified. "Head of the OIC also conveyed to Taliban the groups concern over the continued hostilities in Afghanistan," he said.

Confirming the meeting Taliban ambassador Maulvi Haqqani said the meeting was held at his request to get information about the objectives of the OIC teams visit. "Head of the delegation briefed us about their objectives and said that the fresh peace efforts have been launched in line with Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharrafs talks with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in Tehran in December last year," Haqqani said.

"We welcome and respect any step taken for the peace and reconciliation. But our rivals have never shown sincerity in dialogue," the Taliban envoy said. He said that the opposition wants war. "We invited the delegation to see the destruction in capital Kabul which speak the deeds of opponents," Haqqani said. He said he told the delegation that the opposition has never worked for reconciliation.

"Taliban asked the OIC team to keep ground realities in mind and make impartial decision," he said. He said the Afghan government has strong arguments to say this as "we control more than 90 per cent of the territory and have established complete peace there". "We want to overcome the rest of difficulty," Haqqani said adding that Taliban assured the OIC team that they have always supported dialogue.

Meanwhile the OIC delegation Wednesday morning left for Tashkent on the second leg of the OIC fresh initiative to promote a negotiated settlement of the Afghan conflict. Earlier the seven-member delegation, led by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr. Muhammad Jawad Zarif, held talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and other senior officials in Islamabad and discussed ways to facilitate restoration of peace in the war-torn Afghanistan.

The delegation comprised members of the OIC ad-hoc Committee on Afghanistan including Iran, Pakistan, Tunisia, Guinea and representative of the OIC Secretary General. The delegation is also scheduled to visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in addition to Saudi Arabia to asses the situation and latest development and see how best it can help to bring peace to Afghanistan. The delegation will wind up its visit in Tehran to present report to the OIC current Chairman President Mohammad Khatami.

On his arrival in Islamabad on Tuesday, Zarif said fresh peace efforts have been launched at the initiative by Iranian President Muhammad Khatami as Chairman of the OIC in consultation with the Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf and other Islamic leaders to dispatch the delegation to neighbouring countries of Afghanistan.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar welcomed fresh move by Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami to resolve Afghan problem and reaffirmed Islamabads support to the OIC and UN efforts to promote the restoration of durable peace in Afghanistan.

Talking to the OIC delegation the foreign minister appreciated President Khatamis decision to send a delegation to neighbouring countries of Afghanistan for facilitating the peace process, a Foreign Office statement said. The OIC move coincides with the visit to the region by the UN Secretary Generals Personal Representative for Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell. Mr. Vendrell has visited Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan and held talks with leaders of these countries as well as Taliban and representatives of anti-Taliban alliance Burhanuddin Rabbani and Commander Ahmed Shah Masood.

Leaves for Tashkent:

The OIC delegation Wednesday left for Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, on the second leg of the OIC fresh initiative to promote a negotiated settlement of the Afghan conflict.

Earlier the seven-member delegation, led by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr. Muhammad Jawad Zarif, held talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and other senior officials in Islamabad and discussed ways to facilitate restoration of peace in the war-torn Afghanistan.

The delegation comprised members of the OIC ad-hoc Committee on Afghanistan including Iran, Pakistan, Tunisia, Guinea and representative of the OIC Secretary General.

The delegation is scheduled also to visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in addition to Saudi Arabia to asses the situation and latest development and see how best it can help to bring peace to Afghanistan. The delegation will wind up its visit in Tehran to present report to the OIC current Chairman President Mohammad Khatami.

Zarif said in Islamabad on arrival Tuesday fresh peace efforts have been launched at the initiative by Iranian President Muhammad Khatami as Chairman of the OIC in consultation with the Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf and other Islamic leaders to dispatch the delegation to neighbouring countries of Afghanistan.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar welcomed fresh move by Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami to resolve Afghan problem and reaffirmed Islamabads support to the OIC and UN efforts to promote the restoration of durable peace in Afghanistan.

Talking to the OIC delegation the foreign minister appreciated President Khatamis decision to send a delegation to neighbouring countries of Afghanistan for facilitating the peace process, a Foreign Office statement said.

The OIC move coincides with the visit to the region by the UN Secretary Generals Personal Representative for Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell. Mr. Vendrell has visited Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan and held talks with leaders of these countries as well as Taliban and representatives of anti-Taliban alliance Burhanuddin Rabbani and Commander Ahmed Shah Masood.