Kabul
Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Hanif Atmar has sought Pakistan’s help to end the raging conflict in Afghanistan, saying that he hoped Islamabad would persuade the Taliban to return to talks again.
The situation in Afghanistan has taken a turn for the worse, with the Taliban launching a blistering cam-paign and capturing key districts of the country, drastically emboldened as US and other foreign forces gear up to leave the country.
In an interview with a news channel, Atmar said Kabul had great expectations from Pakistan. “We are hopeful Pakistan will help Afghanistan disrupt the Taliban’s supply and ‘brutal campaign’,” said the Afghan minister.
In response to a question about whether the Afghan government thinks the US betrayed it, Atmar said that Washington signed an agreement with the Tali-ban with honest intentions.
“The Taliban did not fulfil their part of the deal and deceived the whole world,” he said.
“The Taliban are making a huge mistake. All of us have extended a hand of friendship towards them,” he added.
He said the Afghan government was telling the Taliban to honour the Doha peace deal, adding that Kabul had fulfilled its obligations of the deal when it came to the prisoners exchange and ensuring foreign troops leave the country.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Al-Qaeda have banded forces with other terrorist elements and are fighting alongside the Taliban against the government of Afghanistan, said Atmer.
“We are monitoring links between the TTP, Taliban and Al-Qaeda on a daily basis,” said Atmer. “These ties certainly exist.”
