'Pakistan facilitated US-Taliban talks'

This photo, taken on June 20, 2013, shows the new office of the Afghan Taliban in Doha.

A senior Pakistani official says the Islamabad government has facilitated the ongoing controversial peace talks between the Taliban militants and the United States in Qatar.

According to the unnamed official, Pakistani negotiators have been persuading the Taliban leadership in recent weeks to embark on peace talks with the Americans and the Afghan government.

Å“The process is continuing. In fact it is in everyoneâ„¢s interest that the process remains alive,” the Pakistani Dawn newspaper quoted the official as saying.

President Barack Obama’s administration has supported peace talks with the Taliban after the US-led forces lost ground against the militants in recent months across Afghanistan.

Senior Pakistani officials have welcomed the dialogue between Taliban and the United States in Doha, but the Afghan government has expressed serious concerns about the ongoing US-led peace process with Taliban in Qatar.

Senior Afghan officials say the move contradicts the US security guarantees, noting that the Taliban militants will be able to use their Doha office to raise funds for their campaign in Afghanistan.

The Kabul government has suspended strategic talks with Washington to discuss the nature of US presence after foreign troops withdraw in 2014.

Meanwhile, Afghanistanâ„¢s High Peace Council stated that none of its members will travel to Qatar to sit at talks with the Taliban.

The council has been making efforts to initiate dialogue with discontented Afghans and militants who have engaged in warfare with the US-led forces and Kabul’s Western-backed government.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washingtonâ„¢s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but after more than 11 years, insecurity remains across the country.

JR/KA

Republished with permission from:: Press TV