Pakistan to influence Taliban for direct talks with Turkey: PM

Pakistan to influence Taliban for direct talks with Turkey, says Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He expressed these views in an interaction with journalists at the PM House in Islamabad today.

Pakistan to influence Taliban for direct talks with Turkey

He said that Pakistan would use its influence on Taliban for holding direct talks with Turkey to secure the Kabul International Airport as the U.S. troops set to exit the conflict-hit country by August 31.

He said that we would be trying the best thing for Turkey and Taliban to have a face-to-face dialogue.

So that both could talk about the reasons to secure the Kabul airport.

A reporter asked about the government’s position after Turkey had proposed a new joint mission involving itself, Pakistan and Hungary to protect the Kabul International Airport.

Furthermore, the PM mentioned his meeting with Turkish defence minister retired General Hulusi Akar on Wednesday.

He disclosed that they also discussed the security situation in the region including Afghanistan.

He said e would also talk to the Taliban and use our influence [for a meeting with Turkish government].

Imran Khan said the Afghan government was getting extremely critical about Pakistan, considering that it had “some magic powers” to persuade the Taliban.

He said in fact, persuading the Taliban had become more difficult.

Miniscule leverage on the Taliban

The PM said that now, our leverage on the Taliban is miniscule as they think that they have won against the Americans.

Moreover, he said that the ‘kleptocratic’ government of Afghanistan had made Pakistan a scapegoat for all its misgovernance done in past years.

He said the Afghan government was trying everything to get the United States back and intervene in the current situation.

A reporter sought his comments about Pakistan’s stance on Taliban demanding Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to step down.

The PM emphasized the need for a “ceasefire at all costs.”

He further said that the “Doha talks would decide the middle ground for a compromise” between the stakeholders.

Pakistan, he said, would deal with any government in Afghanistan, “elected or selected”, by its people.

“An inclusive government would be the best. But if the Taliban do a forceful military takeover, the result will be a civil war and a nightmare for Pakistan,” he added.

The prime minister said Pakistan was “worried” about the law and order situation in Afghanistan because any civil war could result in a direct impact on it in the shape of an influx of refugees.

To a question on China’s future role in Afghanistan, he said China being an emerging power and a neighbour would have its part in the rebuilding of the war-torn country.

GTV