News Analysis: Pakistan, Afghan summit raises hopes for Taliban talk revival

The ice-breaking summit between Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Paris this week has raised hopes for an end to the deadlock in rare peace talks with the Taliban.

Both leaders met on the sidelines of the Paris Climate Change Conference after friendly countries encouraged them to sit down, bridge the trust gap and work for the revival of the peace process in Afghanistan.

"Both leaders agreed to work with all those who would enter such a process as legitimate political actors and act, alongside the Afghan government, against those who refuse to take the path of peace," the Prime Minister's office had stated in Islamabad after the meeting on Nov. 30.

Afghanistan had long been demanding action against those who are responsible for violence and are averse to peace.

Sharif's agreement to act against those averse to peaceful means could address the longstanding and genuine concerns of the Afghan government about the senseless violence in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's help in reducing violence in Afghanistan and the promotion of the political process would be a major confidence boost for both the terrorism-hit countries.

This approach of the Pakistani-Afghan leaders could increase pressure on the Taliban leaders to choose whether they want to pursue the path of violence or return to the intra-Afghan negotiation table.

There is also a strong lobby within the Taliban who want an end to the war and opt for a political resolution.

For their part, the Taliban have given some indications of their willingness to join the peace process, although there had been no formal announcement.

The Taliban's recent decision to officially appoint Sher Abbas Stanekzai as head of their political office in Qatar is seen as an important development as it could give a boost to the group's political activities.

With Stanekzai's confirmation, the Taliban's new leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor has now strengthened his control over political issues. The Qatar office under its former head, Sayed Tayyeb Agha had stayed away from the Pakistan-brokered peace talks in early July.

It was Mansoor who had sent senior Taliban leaders for face-to-face talks with a high level delegation of the Afghan government.

Mansoor, who was acting chief of the Taliban at that time, had the approval of the powerful Leadership Council for the peace talks.

But in the latest twist, an Afghan official said on Wednesday that Mansoor was wounded in a firing incident in Pakistan's Balochistan province, as the Taliban militant group has been divided into two factions.

The news was later denied by an Afghan Taliban spokesman, who dismissed it as propaganda by the Afghan intelligence.

Many would expect the Afghan government will also have to change its policy of pleading for the use of force, as this option has not resolved the problem over the past 15 years despite the presence of nearly 160,000 U.S.-led NATO troops and their military might.

As the military choice seems to have failed, all major stakeholders are now in favor of political means.

Pakistan had hosted the representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban on July 7 in the first ever direct talks; however, the second round was cancelled after the Taliban leader Mullah Omar's death was confirmed in late July.

When the Taliban staged deadly attacks under new leader Mansoor in August, President Ghani refused to seek Pakistan's help in the negotiations with the Taliban.

Besides, Britain and several other friendly countries including China, the U.S. and Turkey have also played key role to bring the Pakistani and Afghan leaders closer. They also back the Pakistan-brokered talks and want to bring the process back on track.

It is widely believed that the revival of the peace talks could reduce violence and even stop the Taliban from launching their traditional Spring Offensive.

Pakistani officials had earlier stated that some understanding to reduce the Taliban attacks was expected during the second round of talks slated for July 31. A wise approach for Kabul would be to pave the way for the revival of the peace process. Enditem