Ashraf Ghani invites Taliban to join peace talks to 'save the country'

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday called on the Taliban to take part in peace talks to “save the country” while simultaneously calling for government-to-government talks with Pakistan "for peace".

Ghani was speaking at the 2nd Kabul Process Conference attended by representatives from more than 20 countries and international organisations.

Ghani said the Afghan government will provide facilities and security for those Taliban who join the peace process. “We will consider the Taliban's view in the peace talks,” he said.

A resurgent Taliban has been blamed for much of the increased violence in Afghanistan since United States and Nato forces concluded combat missions in 2014. The attacks have underscored the weaknesses of Afghan security forces.

In a tweet last night about today's conference, Ghani had said: "I will present detailed peace offer to Taliban and Pakistan on behalf of the Afghan people. We wish to march toward a lasting peace in #Afghanistan and in the region!"

The development arrived less than 48 hours after the Taliban called for direct talks with the US to find a “peaceful solution” to the conflict in Afghanistan, in an apparent policy reversal after months of escalating attacks.

India, Pakistan foreign secretaries may meet in Kabul
Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale may come face to face with his Pakistani counterpart, Tehmina Janjua, in Kabul this week for the conference, the Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday.

Gokhale will attend the conference on Wednesday. Though an official one-to-one meeting between the foreign secretaries hasn't been confirmed by either of the two countries, if it takes place, the paper said, it would be the first such meeting between India and Pakistan since National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his Pakistan counterpart in December 2017 in Bangkok.

The speculated meeting of the top diplomats at the Kabul conference comes in the backdrop of recent attacks on an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Sunjwan, which India blames on Pakistan.

The “Kabul Process” meeting is an Afghan government-led initiative with stakeholders to find lasting peace in the war-torn country, including the contours of engaging with Taliban outfit. This is the second such meeting of the Kabul Process and is taking place amid stepped up prospects that the elusive TAPI gas pipeline connecting Turkmenistan and India through Afghanistan and Pakistan could be taking shape.

The first Kabul Process conference was first held in June last year.