ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief Nawaz {not-so} Sharif is willing to broker talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, his spokesman said Tuesday, amid reports that Sharif is already playing a key role.
The offer came after a Pakistani newspaper reported that Sharif, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia, is helping to seek a settlement between the hardline Taliban and the US-backed regime of President Hamid Karzai.
Spokesman Siddiqul Farooq confirmed that Sharif had spent the last two weeks in Saudi Arabia for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, but told AFP that he could not immediately comment on the report.
‘But Nawaz Sharif is a credible leader {since when?} of Pakistan and he has dealt with Taliban wisely during his government in the past. He would be more than happy to play a role in national and international peace,’ Farooq said.
‘I cannot say whether he has established any contact with Taliban and the Afghan government with Saudi Arabia’s blessings.’
The Afghanistan government on Monday denied a US media report that a first round of negotiations took place in Saudi Arabia last month. Karzai has called for peace talks with the Taliban.
Pakistan backed the Taliban during Sharif’s second spell in power from 1997 to 1999. Under him, Pakistan was one of only three countries to recognise the Taliban, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
He also has strong ties to Saudi Arabia, having spent seven years in exile there until his return to Pakistan last year.
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Nawaz Sharif offers to broker Afghan talks
So, not-so-Sharif is offering a brokering deal, hah. CNN reported that a “negotiating” meeting has been going on between Karzai team and Taliban hosted by Saudis but per this article Karzai has denied of such a meeting.
When Pakistan was making peace deals with Taliban in FATA under Musharraf whole world went crazy and suggested Pakistan is caving in, Pakistan is siding with terrorists and what not. After Musharraf Gillani also tried peace-pact with Taliban and world went crazy again… though on both occasions Taliban failed the peace accord themselves.
Now Afghanistan/US are both willing to make peace-deal with Taliban, US is even willing to let Taliban come return to (shared) power… what hypocrites!