Afghan peacemakers hopeful Nawaz can broker peace process deal with Afghanistan

Members of the Afghan High Peace Council have said they have confidence in Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ability to play a crucial role in brokering a peace deal with Afghanistan.

Qazi Amin Waqad, a senior member of the Afghan High Peace Council, said that they were hopeful Sharif will help in promoting the peace process in Afghanistan.

He recalled Sharif's help in brokering the Islamabad Peace Accord. He had handed over his office to senior Jehadi leaders for 12 days in 1993. Sharif then provided his special plane to the Jehadi leaders to fly to Saudi Arabia for sealing the agreement there and performing Umra.

The peace accord was signed during Nawaz's first term in office, and led to the formation of an interim government headed by Prof Burhanuddin Rabbani.

Waqad hoped that Sharif could help bring President Hamid Karzai and the Taliban leader Mulla Omar, to the table.

Talking to The Express Tribune from Kabul, Waqad said that Pakistan's intentions should not be doubted as this could lead to mistrust, instead bridge the trust deficit.

The comments come amid accusations against Pakistan by Karzai that Islamabad had floated a proposal to share power between his government and the Taliban, the report added.