Zakir Jalaly, political analyst
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal visited Pakistan while former dictator president Pervez Musharraf faces trial.
Prior to the visit of the high-ranking Saudi official, there was speculation that the purpose of his visit was to rescue Musharraf. While the officials in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has dispelled the impression of linking the Saudi FM’s visit to Musharraf’s case and insisting that the discussions retained focused on bilateral relations and regional events.
Meanwhile Afghanistan’s high peace council claimed that Faisal’s visit is aimed to convince Pakistani leadership to pressurize Afghan Taliban to negotiate with the government of Mr. Karzai. Afghan government’s officials and members of high peace council often pretend that Pakistan can facilitate peace negotiations between the Afghan High Peace Council and the Taliban. Pakistani Prime Minister’s adviser on security and foreign affairs stated last month that Pakistan has no control over Taliban and they are not ready to accept peace talk’s requests from Afghan government.
The possible signature of bilateral Security Agreement between Kabul and Washington on the one hand and the expectation of peace negotiations with Taliban on the other hand seems paradox. Moreover, Hezb-e-Islimi which has initiated peace talks with government with soft conditions than that of Taliban failed in reaching any result.
Afghan government and Afghan high peace council have repeatedly made this mistake by highlighting the role of Pakistan in Peace negotiation more than it reserves, while Pakistan itself sought political advantage of this role, which has been provided easily by Afghan government.
If there was a political commitment to peace in the government of Afghanistan, the Qattar office was the reliable address for Afghan Taliban which was regrettably closed. If Afghan government had managed with the sense of consultation in the peace issue, today the negotiation delegates would have been able to negotiate with Taliban over various issues of Afghanistan.