Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday urged leaders of the Afghan Taliban movement to enter direct peace negotiations with Kabul, a possible sign that Islamabad is stepping up support for reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Both Afghan and US officials have long accused Pakistan of using militant groups as proxies in Afghanistan to counter the influence of rival countries, allegations Islamabad denies.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in a statement that Pakistan was "prepared to do whatever it takes" to help the Afghan reconciliation process succeed. He called on Hezb-i-Islami — a radical insurgent faction — and other militant groups to negotiate peace.
The Afghan government has established some contacts with the Taliban, who have made a strong comeback after being toppled by a US invasion in 2001, but there are no signs that full-fledged peace talks will happen any time soon.
US diplomats have also been seeking to broaden exploratory talks that began clandestinely in Germany in late 2010 after the Taliban offered to open a representative office in Qatar, prompting demands for inclusion from Kabul.
Rahimullah Yusufzai, an expert on regional affairs, said Gilani's comments marked a shift in Pakistani policy.
"It's important because I am hearing this for the first time, that the Pakistani prime minister or somebody that important is urging the Taliban ... to talk directly to the Afghan government," he said.
