UN official lauds Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations’ top envoy to Afghanistan has lauded Pakistan’s role in setting the stage for the peace process in war-torn Afghanistan.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons welcomed the prospect of intra-Afghan talks, saying it is a historic moment.

“We thank member states, including Qatar, the United States, Pakistan and others who have engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to get us to this point,” Lyons added.

The UN top envoy also called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the country as the negotiating teams of Afghanistan and the Taliban prepare to sit in Doha for talks.

In this regard, she said, “For our part, the UN will be working with international partners to support both parties and the host countries throughout the process.”

“Eventually, the negotiations will have to tackle a range of profound questions about the kind of country Afghans want,” the UN envoy said. “Solutions cannot be found on the battlefield or imposed from the outside,” she added.

Women’s rights are also emerging as among the most difficult issues confronting the parties as they enter negotiations. “This issue will be more central in the Afghan peace process than we have ever seen in any other peace negotiation in recent memory,” she remarked.

She also welcomed the ‘overwhelming’ response to UNAMA’s Ambassadors Working Group meetings by China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The Afghan conflict, which has raged for four decades, continues to kill hundreds of people each week and has displaced millions over the years – most of whom have no prospects of return.