Afghan peace process stands ‘scuttled’

Islamabad: Pakistan said the Afghan peace process stands “scuttled” as it belatedly confirmed on Thursday the killing of Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike five days ago on its soil in Balochistan province.

“All indicators confirm that the person killed in the drone strike was Mullah Mansour, who was travelling on a fake identity,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz told a news conference.

Aziz said the body would be handed over after the DNA test report.

“In less than a year, the peace process has been scuttled twice,” Aziz said.

In July 2015 the process faltered after a first round of Pakistan-hosted direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban due to a leak of information that Taliban movement founder Mullah Omar had died two years ago.

“Mullah Mansour was not opposed to peace talks,” Aziz said, adding that his death “has added to the complexity of the Afghan conflict.”

“In our view there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan,” the adviser said.

“Pakistan believes a politically negotiated settlement remains the most viable option for bringing lasting peace to Afghanistan.

“The military approach has been tried for 15 years and could not achieve the objective,” he said.

Aziz said Pakistan’s desire for lasting peace in Afghanistan “is motivated by our conviction that peace and stability in Afghanistan is essential not only for the people of the country but also for the entire region.”

Last Saturday’s drone strike, reportedly authorised directly by the US president, was the first in the restive province of Balochistan, considered a red-line by the Pakistani government.

Pakistan’s government and military have conveyed “serious concern” to the US over the “violation” of the country’s sovereignty and its likely detrimental impact on bilateral relations.

Referring to the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz said their massive presence has given rise to security concerns as terrorists and militants use the camps as hideouts for nefarious activities.

He said the international community must take effective steps urgently for the repatriation of Afghan refugees.