Pak wants 'credible' peace initiative with Afghanistan

Pakistan on Monday has called for a "credible and inclusive" peace initiative with Afghanistan to end the political instability and suicide attacks on the other side of the border that separates both the countries.

According to the Express Tribune, Islamabad is pinning hopes on Kabul to announce a comprehensive peace initiative during a regional conference that is scheduled to take place in Kabul next month.

The meeting will be attended by Afghanistan's neighbours and also other international countries to arrive at a consensus on how to end the chaos in the country.

It also seeks Afghanistan to be on the driving seat for any peace talks with the Afghan Taliban and other insurgent groups.

A senior Foreign Ministry official confirmed Pakistan's participation in the meeting and said, "Islamabad hopes that the Kabul process would lead to tangible outcome."

"The Afghanistan leadership needs to come up with a plan that offers incentive to all the insurgents to come to the negotiating table," the official added.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained frosty due to the latter's constant blame on Pakistan's non-cooperation on tackling terrorism and insurgency and also sending terrorists to Afghanistan for conducting suicide attacks over the years.

Speaking on the proposed peace initiative, the official said, "The proposal, if implemented in right earnest, can significantly reduce trust deficit as well as improve political, security and economic cooperation between the two countries."

Pakistan is mulling to send a high-level delegation to Afghanistan in order to iron out differences between both countries and ensuring constant cooperation in various fields, ahead of the Kabul Process conference.

This comes at a time when Afghanistan have been ravaged by a series of deadly terrorist attacks during the last few days, particularly in Kabul.

A group of attackers stormed the Marshal Fahim Military University in Kabul, killing five soldiers and injuring 10 others earlier in the day.

On Saturday, Taliban militants detonated an explosive-laden ambulance in a busy area close to Kabul's infamous Chicken Street, killing 103 people, as confirmed by the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI).

Around six people were killed when a car bomb exploded outside the 'Save the Children' office. The Islamic State (IS) has reportedly claimed the responsibility on Thursday.

Also, at least 22 people, mostly foreigners were killed, when the Taliban militants stormed a luxury hotel on January 20.

--ANI