Trump seeks Imran’s help in Afghan talks

US HAS LONG BEEN PUSHING ISLAMABAD TO NEGOTIATE WITH AFGHAN TALIBAN

Overture to Islamabad represents a sea change from US leader’s normally harsh rhetoric |

Pakistan said yesterday that US President Donald Trump has sought its help with faltering Afghan peace talks, part of intensifying efforts by Trump to end one of America’s longest wars.

Trump, in a letter to new Prime Minister Imran Khan, asked for Pakistan’s “support and facilitation” in negotiating an end to the war and offered to renew the strained relationship, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.

The overture to Imran represents a sea change from Trump’s normally harsh rhetoric towards Pakistan, and will add to growing speculation that the US is planning to pull out of Afghanistan in the near future.

The US president wants to bring to a close the 17-yearold conflict between Afghan security forces and the Taliban, who are fighting to drive out international forces and re-establish their strict interpretation of Sharia after their 2001 ouster.

US officials have long been pushing Pakistan to lean on Taliban leaders, who Washington says are based inside Pakistan, to bring them to the negotiating table.

“He has asked for Pakistan’s cooperation to bring the Taliban into talks,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told journalists.

Trump told Imran the Pak-istan relationship was very important to the United States and to finding a solution to the Afghanistan conflict, Chaudhry added.

The US embassy in Islamabad had no immediate comment on the letter.

High costs

Trump has been open about his desire to bring home about 14,000 US troops who remain in Afghanistan as part of Resolute Support and a separate counter-terrorism mission aimed against militant groups such as Al Qaida and Daesh.

“President Trump has also acknowledged that the war had cost both USA and Pakistan. He has emphasised that Pakistan and USA should explore opportunities to work together and renew partnership,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that Pakistan is committed to playing “a facilitation role in good faith”.

“Peace and stability in Afghanistan remain a shared responsibility.”