Afghan govn’t priorities peace with Pakistan over Taliban

Afghan Presidential office sparked a reaction to the Pakistan Chief of Army visiting U.S. to hold talks on Afghanistan saying Afghanistan’s peace has two dimensions, the Pakistan and the terror groups in Pakistani soil fighting against the Afghan government.

“We have repeatedly emphasized that as a legitimate government we want a permanent peace in Afghanistan, as always being said Afghanistan’s peace process has two dimensions, the first dimension is Pakistan and the second is terror groups fighting from the Pakistani soil against Afghanistan,” Sayed Zafar Hashimi, a spokesman for President Ghani said on Sunday.

Starting on Monday, Pakistan Army Chief, Raheel Sharif will visit US on his own as reportedly there was no official invitation from his American counterparts and Afghanistan’s stalled peace process is at the top of agenda.

According to the reports by Pakistani newspaper dawn news Gen Sharif would meet Vice President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials including Secretary of State John Kerry, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford, Army Chief of Staff Gen Mark Milley and Director CIA John Brennan during his five day visit.

A number of Afghan analysts believe that Pakistan is always trying to get tribute from the Americans and Pakistani military generals are trying to give a role to a number of Taliban through the so-called peace process to undermine India role in Afghanistan.

“Appeasement must not increase as much as Pakistan could penetrate their favorites over the Afghan government,” Bari Salam, an Afghan political expert said.

“There are two powers controlling Pakistan, the military and the civilian government. U.S. asked Nawaz Sharif to be committed for bringing peace, now demanding peace guarantee from the Pakistani military. In return, Pakistan is questioning Afghanistan’s sovereignty, they want Afghanistan to cut relations with India and weakness of the government in Afghanistan,” Ahmad Saeedi an Afghan-Pakistan political analyst said.

Afghanistan stalled peace process faced to a deadlock after the death of the Taliban’s Supreme Leader Mullah Omar revealed and Afghan government announced that first of all Afghanistan peace is with Pakistan not with Taliban group.

Reported by: Farahnaz Froton