A July 8 statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which hosted the meeting, says it was agreed that “for lasting peace in the region, each side would approach the process in sincerity and with full commitment”.
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Ghani said the talks aim to “change this meeting into a process of continuing talks”, as well as to build trust and to develop the agenda for any negotiations, according to a statement by his office.
Tuesday’s talks came after repeated informal meetings between Taliban and government representatives, most recently hosted by Qatar and Norway.
Taliban and other Islamist militants have stepped up attacks on Afghan and foreign forces this year, after most coalition troops withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of 2014.
It is for the first time that such an announcement has been made about peace process between Afghans and the Taliban.
Pakistan has been urging the Taliban’s exiled leadership to enter peace talks and the insurgents may also be motivated by the trend of some of its commanders breaking off to declare loyalty to rival jihadists Islamic State.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif described the talks as a “breakthrough” and adding “this process has to succeed”.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan and ex- president Hamid Karzai welcomed the talks.
The atmosphere at the meeting was “positive” and “warm”, he said, and it ended with the sides sharing “sehri”, the pre-dawn meal Muslims eat before a new day of fasting begins, consisting of tea, omelettes, yoghurt, fruit, curry and paratha flatbreads.
The United States has appreciated the role being played by Pakistan in facilitating direct talks, between Afghan government and the Taliban, seeking prioritisation of peace and reconciliation efforts in the strife-torn country.
The president has sought Pakistan’s help in bringing the Taliban to negotiations, since it is a traditional ally of the group.
“This is an important step in advancing prospects for a credible peace”, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of the meeting in Pakistan.
Sharif cautioned that the talks would be hard and said Afghanistan’s neighbours and the worldwide community should ensure “nobody tries to derail this process”. The Taliban had previously disowned all talks held without the involvement of their political office.
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Because Zakir holds sway over several thousand fighters in eastern Afghanistan, it is uncertain whether any ceasefire, likely be the first demand by Kabul, could hold.
