Pakistan Tells Britain it Backs Afghan Peace Efforts

Khurram SHAHZAD | Fox News | AFP | ISLAMABAD (AFP) – Pakistan assured Britain's visiting prime minister on Sunday that it would promote peace efforts in neighbouring Afghanistan as the West pushes for talks with the Taliban ahead of NATO's withdrawal.

David Cameron's talks in Islamabad were conducted as three attacks in northwest Pakistan killed at least 25 people, underscoring the Islamist militant violence plaguing both sides of the Afghan border. His two-day visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan was part of a Western push to end a 12-year Taliban insurgency after recent efforts to start peace talks collapsed in ignominy over the manner in which the militants opened an office in Qatar on June 18.

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Afghanistan's 'worst nightmare' of Pak double speak comes true over peace talks

Afghanistan Sun (ANI) | Wednesday 3rd April, 2013 | Afghanistan's 'worst nightmare' of Pakistan cutting back on support for peace talks with the Taliban ahead of the NATO troops pull out in 2014, has come true. Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai said Pakistan is changing the goalposts on its support for the peace process once again, and in recent weeks has appeared to have backed away from support for the process. (READ MORE)

The Real Road to an Afghan Peace

AMIR TAHERI | New York Post | 04/02/2013 | With snow starting to melt in the mountains of the Hindu Hush, Afghans are preparing for another season of fighting in the 34-year-long war that has ravaged their country. And, like every year this time, there is much talk about “peace talks” between the government of President Hamid Karzai and the Taliban. This year’s talk about talks is hotter than previous seasons, for two reasons. First, the Obama administration, preparing to withdraw from Afghanistan next year, has asked Qatar (now Washington’s closest Arab ally in the Middle East) to open a dialogue with the Taliban. The oil-rich state has obliged by contacting Taliban figures and promising to let the group open an “information office” in Doha. Last week, Qatar also hosted Karzai to discuss possible “peace talks” with Sheik Hamad, the emir. (READ MORE)

Pak Taliban Suspends Talks with Govt. for not 'Being Serious' with Peace Process

Afghanistan Sun | The Pakistani Taliban have suspended peace talks with the Pakistani government, claiming that they are "not serious" with the peace initiative. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said that the militant organisation has suspended talks with the government and claimed that the army and government were not serious in conducting peace dialogue and talks, reports The Dawn. (READ MORE)