Afghanistan seeks Sami’s help for talks with Taliban
NOWSHERA: Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Janan Musazai held a meeting with Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, on Saturday and requested him to play his role for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
During the meeting which lasted four hours, the two discussed the situation prevailing in the region.
It’s worth mentioning that the Afghan ambassador visited Darul Uloom Haqqania headed by Maulana Sami after the latter extended his full support to the newly appointed chief of Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour.
The envoy handed over a message from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Maulana Sami, through which Mr Ghani requested him to play his role for the establishment of peace in Afghanistan.
Maulana Sami is said to be a staunch supporter of Taliban and their late leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar. He is considered by some as the ‘father of Taliban’.
Afghan envoy holds meeting with the JUI-S chief
Talking to the media, Ambassador Musazai said Afghan ulema had great regard for Maulana Sami and his role would be of great significance for peace in his country.
He said: “We have pinned all our hopes on Maulana Samiul Haq because he commands influence over religious circles.”
He said the role of religious leaders could not be ignored.
Maulana Sami said that governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan and Taliban should show seriousness about the peace process. He called upon the Afghan government to give some time to the Taliban to shun their differences and forge unity in their ranks, adding it would help take the peace process forward.
“The peace process would just be a pipe dream if the Taliban remain divided,” he cautioned and said mutual differences would provide an opportunity to foreign forces to fail the negotiation process.
He appealed to various Taliban groups to forge unity and resume dialogue immediately. He asked the Afghan government to take `genuine’ demands of the Taliban seriously.
Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2015
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