Pakistan has some influence over Afghan Taliban, but no control: Sartaj

[Devil Soul]

Pakistan has some influence over Taliban, but no control: Sartaj
DAWN.COM — UPDATED ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that Pakistan has some influence on the Taliban but it had no control over them, reported Radio Pakistan.

Speaking to Meher Abbasi in an interview on DawnNews, Aziz said it was up to the Afghan government to resume talks with Taliban and that Pakistan's job was only to facilitate the talks.

He said both the United States and Pakistan fully supported the Afghan reconciliation process, adding that it was up to the Afghan government to decide whether they wanted the same or not.

He said the international community has concerns about the Afghan issue and no world power wants war in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan and the US want resumption of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Aziz said the Afghan government has not yet approached Pakistan regarding contact with the Taliban.

He said Pakistan's stance was clear that its soil would not be used against any country.

Pakistan had brokered peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban in July, the first round of which took place in Murree. But after theannounced death of Taliban supremo Mullah Omar, a second round of talks was postponed.

Know more: Afghan govt, Taliban agree to build trust

Ties between Islamabad and Kabul were generally improving until the recent attacks in Kabul adversely affected them.

President Ashraf Ghani accused Pakistan of failing to cleanse its soil of terrorist bases from where attacks were being launched continuously.

Afghan defence officials also accused Pakistan's intelligence service of playing a key role in the Taliban's seizure of Kunduz.

Pakistan has denied the allegations, and condemned the attacks in Kabul and Kunduz in strong terms.

Also read: Pakistan says Taliban occupation of Kunduz unacceptable

Since coming to power last year Ghani has courted Pakistan, expending substantial domestic political capital in the process, in hopes Islamabad will persuade the Taliban to come to the negotiating table.

 

[wadi79]

I have some influence over the stray dogs in my street. Why? Because I feed them.

Why do I feed these dogs? So that they bite my neighbours - who I don't like. Occasionally, they also bite my kids, but that's a price I'm wiling to pay.

But I have no control over them. So when these dogs bite someone, I can deny any responsibility.

Everyone else tells me to stop feeding these dogs, but these strays are my strategic assets.

 

[AugenBlick]

Translation : We want to be relevant but don't expect too much from us. Please don't leave us in indifference.

Classic Pakistan.

 

[haviZsultan]

Well said Sartaj Aziz. But we need a much sharper aggressive policy vis a vis Afghanistan being used as a launchpad for terrorist attacks against Pakistan-the murder of 7 soldiers yesterday being a case to note. oh and 3 before that,

 

[war&peace]

Taliban needs to be engaged in a positive way and that is all the realities on ground indicate that. They have deep roots in Afghan people and enjoy popular support. Despite a decade of NATO's war against them, they have survived and remained popular and force to reckon with which will ultimately rule Afghanistan. I may despise them due to some sickness in my heart, I can't change the reality and now they are being helped by Russia to fight the ISIS (a terrorist outfit). Afghan Taliban have made clear that they have no intentions beyond Afghan borders.

 

[silent hawk]

I have some influence over the stray dogs in my street. Why? Because I feed them.

Why do I feed these dogs? So that they bite my neighbours - who I don't like. Occasionally, they also bite my kids, but that's a price I'm wiling to pay.

But I have no control over them. So when these dogs bite someone, I can deny any responsibility.

Everyone else tells me to stop feeding these dogs, but these strays are my strategic assets.

AoA
Nice way of describing India's support of TTP.
Regards

 

[JohnyD]

Just to keep influence you feed then but if you cant use your influence to control their activities then its of no use...

 

[karakoram]

afghan Taliban was when fighting with Russia was freedom fighter even john Rambo fight for them and when they are against US then they are terrorists isn't it hypocrisy

 

[MilSpec]

Mr. Aziz should have dwelt in to how Pakistan I"Influences" taliban. Why would democratic government have influence over terrorists?

 

[Haroon Syed]

afghan Taliban was when fighting with Russia was freedom fighter even john Rambo fight for them and when they are against US then they are terrorists isn't it hypocrisy

What did we get even after supporting them ? 65-70k dead Pakistanis ? Don't you think we were better before 80's when we never had to do anything with them or these fucking wars ?

 

[suresh1773]

I have some influence over the stray dogs in my street. Why? Because I feed them.

Why do I feed these dogs? So that they bite my neighbours - who I don't like. Occasionally, they also bite my kids, but that's a price I'm wiling to pay.

But I have no control over them. So when these dogs bite someone, I can deny any responsibility.

Everyone else tells me to stop feeding these dogs, but these strays are my strategic assets.

Excellent comments,read several times and laughed. Reminds me the statement of Mrs Hillary Clinton,US Secretary of State, a similar one. Instead of dogs,she used snakes
" "It's like that old story - you can't keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbours. Eventually those snakes are going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard," Clinton said during a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. "

Snakes in your backyard won't bite only neighbours: Hillary to Pak

 

[karakoram]

What did we get even after supporting them ? 65-70k dead Pakistanis ? Don't you think we were better before 80's when we never had to do anything with them or these fucking wars ?

yeah we were good but mistakes are done so now we should c0rrect our mistakes and get rid of this war on Fu@king terror in which we lost over 100 billion dollar and 50k plus lives of innocent people

 

[Haroon Syed]

yeah we were good but mistakes are done so now we should c0rrect our mistakes and get rid of this war on Fu@king terror in which we lost over 100 billion dollar and 50k plus lives of innocent people

Let them die yaar in their own backyard. We should not come in anyone war be it a muslim country. We should have learnt this by now.AT,TTP,AQ oe whatever they are, these dogs are all same. We should fight for Pakistan and for our people. Baaki yea apni jahan marzi maraye.

 

[karakoram]

Let them die yaar in their own backyard. We should not come in anyone war be it a muslim country. We should have learnt this by now.AT,TTP,AQ oe whatever they are, these dogs are all same. We should fight for Pakistan and for our people. Baaki yea apni jahan marzi maraye.

zarb e azab is final war against these scumbags to clear our country from these anarchists. we already showed middle finger to GCC countries after not interfering in Syria war so I think we are going in right direction