Imran Khan initiates dialogue with Taliban

PM SAYS PEACE IN INTEREST OF AFGHANISTAN AND ENTIRE REGION

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said yesterday that he has initiated a dialogue with the Taliban leadership to push for an inclusive government in Afghanistan. “I have initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for an inclusive Afghan government to include Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks,” the PM tweeted.

“After 40 years of conflict, this inclusivity will ensure peace and a stable Afghanistan, which is in the interest not only of Afghanistan but the region as well,” he said.

Talks with Tajik president

Khan announced the decision after he had detailed meetings with the leaders of Afghanistan’s neighbours including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran.

His most lengthy and productive meeting was with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon.

The announcement comes soon after Khan concluded his two-day (Sept 16-17) visit to Tajikistan to attend the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s

(SCO) Heads of State Summit in Dushanbe.

Foreign ministers of China, Russia, India and leaders of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran attended the meeting of the SCO — regional economic and security organisation.

Iran that held the observer status of the group for the last 15 years finally became the SCO full member during the 2021 summit.