US envoy urges Pak to bring Taliban to negotiation table

US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, has urged Islamabad to influence and bring the Taliban to the negotiation table using its leverage.

"Pakistan has been a very good partner on peace process issues. We encourage Pakistan to use its leverage and influence to help bring Taliban to the table [of negotiations]," Olson told Tolo news in an interview yesterday.

Highlighting the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meetings and recent efforts made are a step forward in bringing peace and development to the country, Olson asserted that Islamabad was critical to the peace process.

"I think Pakistan is critical to the peace process and we commend the approach that both the government of Afghanistan and the government of Pakistan have taken to come together on peace issues," he added.

Olson, who has been Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan for the past six months, assured Washington's support in bringing peace in Afghanistan.

"The United States is committed to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. All the members of the quad, including Afghanistan have signaled that they are prepared to enter the peace process without any pre-conditions, but unfortunately, the Taliban have not taken up the offer to come to the table," he said.

His statement comes in wake of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday where the latter asserted his government's commitment in fulfilling its promises and leaving no stone unturned in bringing peace in his country.