KABUL – Afgjanistan High Peace Council (HPC) officials on Tuesday reportedthat Saudi Arabia is expected to host a conference of Islamic scholars onpeace in Afghanistan.

The two day conference will be held in the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Meccaand religious scholars are expected to announce their stance on the war inAfghanistan in a declaration. The conference is expected to be convened ina month’s time.

“When the war in Afghanistan is declared as a prohibited act in the view ofreligion, then the Taliban must show acceptance to the proposed peacepackage,” said HPC spokesman Sayed Ehsan Tahiri.

Meanwhile, US ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass has said that PresidentAshraf Ghani’s recent peace offer to the Taliban provides an opportunity tothe group to respond positively.

“President Ghani at the Kabul Process conference offered what we see as anunprecedented historic offer to the Taliban. Its been supported by all ofthe Afghanistan’s neighbors including Pakistan, by the United States, byRussian, by our NATO allies and we believe its time for the Taliban torespond seriously to that offer and to start a conversation and negotiationwith the government,” said Bass.

In addition, the Afghan government has said that Saudi Arabia in terms ofits influence can put pressure on Pakistan and the Taliban to end the warin Afghanistan.

“We are hopeful that this conference helps pave the way for peacenegotiations in Afghanistan,” said Jawed Faisal, deputy spokesman for theCEO Abdullah Abdullah.

“The impact of Saudi Arabia on Islamic countries is high, undoubtedly, wecan have cooperation of Saudi Arabia in this respect,” added Tahiri.