Umer Daudzai, President Ashraf Ghani’s Special Representative on Regional Affairs for Consensus on Peace, said he appreciates “a change in stance” of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, head of Pakistan Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, on Afghan peace.
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman called on Taliban to hold talks with Afghan government. He said that “it is as important as that with the US”.
Daudzai met Fazl-ul-Rehman on January 9 during his four-day visit to Pakistan.
Fazl-ul-Rehman, who is famous for his pro-Taliban stance and comments, said in an interview with Voice of America that “internal talks are also important, as much as the talks are important with the US”.
“Taliban should hold negotiations with the Afghan government,” the head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan said.
Daudzai, who is also head of the High Peace Council’s secretariat, said the new stance by Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman was the result of talks with him in Pakistan.
“The remarks by Mr. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman which were circulated on social media was the result of our talks and meetings. He definitely had consultation with his party [on this stance] as he finally made it clear,” Daudzai said.
President Ghani’s envoy, meanwhile, spoke out about the Afghan government’s stance in the peace process and said the Constitution of Afghanistan is the “redline of government in the peace process”.
Daudzai’s remarks come amid efforts by the Afghan government and the international community, the United States at the head, to find a political settlement to the war in Afghanistan.
The National Security, Advisor Hamdullah Mohib, who wrapped up a regional trip on Afghan peace on Tuesday has said he held talks with Saudi Arabia officials, where he stressed an Afghan-led peace process.
“Concluded my regional trip with a trip to #Saudi. Engaging our regional partners in a holistic spectrum of cooperation to accelerate the quest for the ultimate goal of lasting peace in Afghanistan which I believe is intimately linked to reinforcing long term regional stability,” Mohib tweeted on Tuesday.
“In these visits, the discussions included joint efforts against terrorism, an Afghan-led peace as well as strengthening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” said Tariq Aryan, a spokesman for the National Security Council.