Kabul has agreed to revive peace talks with Taliban, says Pak PM Abbasi

Islamabad: Pakistan’s prime minister says Afghanistan has accepted his offer to revive stalled peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said war is not the solution to the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan. His remarks Saturday came a day after he visited Kabul and met with the Afghan leadership.

Pakistan has praised Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s overture to the Taliban in which he offered to recognize the radical religious group as a political party.

The Taliban have not officially responded but have reiterated their demand to talk to the US before holding talks with Kabul.

Pakistan hosted the first direct peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban in 2015 but those talks ended when Kabul announced death of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammed Omar.