News - Afghanistan

As Pakistan is isolated, it tries hard to take part in Afghan peace negotiations, several Afghan Senators said on Tuesday.

The comments came as on Monday, Prime Minister, Yosuf Raza Gilani, went to Qatar and met with the Qatari Prime Minister to discuss about Afghan peace negotiations.

The Senators emphasised that there is no guarantee that Pakistan will be honest in peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Tensions between Islamabad, Washington and Kabul have raised concerns among Pakistani officials, Senators believe.

"Pakistan is isolated in the region and tries to hold the central role in Afghan peace negotiations," Ali Akbar Jamshidi, Member of Afghan Upper House said.

The senators asked the government to take the responsibility of negotiations from US and Pakistan.

"Fighting is going on in Afghanistan and Afghans are getting killed every day, but the negotiations belong to Pakistan and the US," Gul Ahmad Azimi, a member of Afghan Upper House said on Tuesday.

Senators believe that their efforts paved the way for Pakistani Prime Minister to visit Qatar.

"I can tell you very confidently that our efforts paved the way for his visit," Senator Gul Ahmad Azimi, said.

Pakistani's prime Minister, Yosuf Raza Gilani visited Qatar on Monday to discuss Afghan peace negotiations with officials there.

Afghan government believes that Mr Gilani's trip will not have a positive or negative impact on the negotiations and called it an Afghan problem.

Afghan officials stressed on Afghan-led talks.

Strengthening of relations and signing trade agreement are called the main purpose of Mr Gilani's trip to Qatar but Islamabad has said that he will discuss Afghan peace talks with the Qatari officials as well.

"As far as Mr Gilani's trip to Qatar is concerned, it will not have a positive or negative impact on the peace negotiations. It neither accelerates the process or slows it down," Abdul Hakim Asher, Head of the Government Media and Information Centre said on Monday. "So, it's clear that we want Afghanistan to lead the negotiations."

Afghans will finally take the leadership of the talks, Afghan officials believe.