*ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has convinced the Afghan government and the Talibanto hold peace talks, Pakistani officials have been reported as saying.*
“It’s a huge success for Pakistan. We don’t know when the talks will beformally held but they have taken a step forward. They (the Afghangovernment and the Taliban) have agreed for peace talks. They will discussterms and conditions in the coming days,” a Pakistani official was quotedas saying.
The Afghan government also confirms developments for the launch of anintra-Afghan negotiation.
Meanwhile, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National SecurityCouncil during his visit in Kabul with Afghan leaders has told that talksbetween Tehran and the Taliban were held “to help curb the securityproblems in Afghanistan”.
“The National Security Council Advisor of the Islamic Republic of Iran haspromised to make all their efforts to convince Taliban to start negotiationwith the Afghan government,” said Omid Maysam, a spokesman for ChiefExecutive Abdullah Abdullah.
Tehran confirms its contacts with the Taliban, adding the relation willbecome more vivid in the near future.
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“We have this process and it will become more clear next week. This processaims to help the government of Afghanistan,” said Ali Shamkhani to IranianNational Radio and Television.
At the same time, Moscow says the planned withdrawal of half of theAmerican troops from Afghanistan was “a step in the right direction”.
At a weekly briefing on Wednesday, Maria Zakharova the Russian ForeignMinistry Spokesperson said that Russia was waiting to see how thewithdrawal would be realized in practice.
