Pakistan reiterates offer to facilitate Afghan peace negotiations

Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its offer to facilitate another round of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The comments came amid a deadlock in the talks due to the death of the Taliban leader Mullah Omar and the increase in Taliban attacks across Afghanistan.

"Pakistan supported and hosted the first round of intra-Afghan dialogue or peace and reconciliation process and if both sides agreed we are ready to offer our cooperation to them for future talks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah told a weekly news conference.

"We have been helping Afghanistan in many ways, in their development process, in their efforts to counter-terrorism, and we have remained in touch with the government in Kabul at various levels and have tried our best to restore the level of trust between the two countries," Khalilullah said.

The spokesman rejected allegations of Pakistan's involvement in Kunduz fighting and reiterated its condemnation of attempt by any group to occupy areas in Afghanistan.

"There is no truth in allegations that Pakistani agencies or forces are involved in attacks (in Kunduz) or elsewhere in Afghanistan. We have also said that occupation of Afghan territory by force by any group is condemnable," he said.

He said Pakistan is determined not to allow its soil to be used against Afghanistan. Endi