Pakistan facilitates opening of Taliban office in Doha

Pakistan confirmed Thursday that it has facilitated opening of Taliban office in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday as part of the larger process of reconciliation in Afghanistan. Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary told the weekly news briefing in Islamabad that Pakistan has been supportive of an all inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue and it is in that spirit that it extended support to the Doha process. He expressed confidence that the process of reconciliation will help bring the war to an end and also lead to lasting peace in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan will be ready to consider all steps and efforts that can further the reconciliation in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan has been talking to both the U.S. and the Afghan government led by President Hamid Karzai. He said Pakistan recognizes the Government of President Karzai as the legitimate Government of Afghanistan. He said the matter of opening of office was between Qatar, Taliban and the United States. Asked about the U.S. drone strikes against militants in Pakistan's northwest tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, the spokesman said Pakistan believed these must come to an end. "Pakistan is giving high priority to the issue and the matter has been taken up at the highest level with the U.S. government on the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif."