Afghan Delegation to Discuss Peace in Islamabad

Visit of an Afghan delegation consisted of leading members of Afghan High Peace Council to Pakistan this week turns a new page in Afghan government's peace efforts with the Taliban.

Burhanuddin Rabbani, Head of High Peace Council, is leading a delegation from Karzai's government to discuss Afghan peace with top officials in Islamabad.

Recently Pakistan has showed full preparedness to broker peace between the Afghan government and the Taliban leaders, who are believed to be hidden or even controlled by Pakistan.

"Nothing will happen without us, because we are part of the solution," Pakistan's Premier said during his last visit from Kabul.

Ataullah Ludin, Burhanuddin Rabbani's deputy, told AFP: "There will be talks with all stakeholders about bringing peace to Afghanistan."

Ludin said the group is scheduled to hold talks with senior and decision-making Pakistani officials including Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Ludin refused to disclose the exact starting day of the visits.

"At least, 29 important Taliban leaders have been arrested by the ISI" since 2001, AFP quoted Mullah Arsala Rahmani, a former Taliban mediator in Kabul, as saying.

Taliban leaders, including Mullah Mohammad Omar, are believed to have fled to Pakistan and are hiding in the southwestern city of Quetta after the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Afghan analysts say the only way to get rid of insurgents and bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and the region is to convince Pakistan to root out terrorist sanctuaries from its territory.