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UN envoy backs Pakistan's Afghan peace efforts

Xinhua, November 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Nicholas Haysom, on Friday appreciated Pakistan's contribution towards peace in Afghanistan and lauded Pakistan's role in launching much needed Afghan peace process.

Haysom met senior Pakistani officials at a time when international efforts are underway to revive the stalled talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The Pakistan-brokered process faced a deadlock after the death of the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Omar, was revealed in late July.

The UN envoy met Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, National Security Adviser Nasir Janjua, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Zubair Hayat.

UN officials in Pakistan said that both sides discussed "prospects for in Afghanistan and wider regional cooperation."

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Haysom "concurred that intra-Afghan peace dialogue would require strong regional backing and expressed hope that Pakistan would continue to play its facilitative role."

"The two sides, inter alia, reviewed the emerging political and security dynamics, and international efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Aziz told the UN envoy that an "enduring peace would only come through an inclusive political dialogue."

Pakistan hosted the first ever direct Afghan peace talks in early July but the second round scheduled for July 31 was cancelled at the Taliban request as they had been involved in transition after Mullah Omar's death.

"The international community was also desirous of early resumption of the stalled peace process in Afghanistan, which in Pakistan's view was the best course of action," Aziz said. He added that Pakistan would facilitate the resumption of peace process, if approached by the Afghan government.

The two sides also discussed repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and their sustainable reintegration in Afghanistan. Aziz urged that UNHCR must step up its efforts to mobilize international support to develop absorption capacity of Afghan government for sustainable integration of returning refugees.

Pakistan still hosts nearly 1.5 million Afghan refugees and a similar number of unregistered ones, according to the UN refugee agency. Enditem