Pakistan’s senior cleric, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, has called on the Afghan Taliban to enter into peace talks with the Afghan government.
Fazal-ur-Rehman, who heads a conservative political party, has previously made remarks supporting Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.
The Taliban have held three rounds of peace talks with the United States, but the group has refused to sit with the Afghan government representatives.
The Pakistani cleric told the Voice of America that the Taliban belong to Afghanistan and their war is also against the Afghan government. He said that the intra-Afghan talks are as much as important as dialogue with US.
The cleric said that the Taliban’s struggle is not jihad (holy war).
This comes after his visit with Umar Daudzai, president Ghan’s envoy for peace and regional consensus.
Daudzai met with Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman this week and discussed Afghan peace with him.
The Afghan High Peace Council in a statement said Mr. Daudzai emphasized on the importance of the support of Pakistani Ulemas for the revival negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban group.
He also briefed Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman regarding the peace process in Afghanistan and urged to take practical steps and play a constructive role in this regard.
