'US- Hizb-i-Islami preliminary exchange likely to lead to more meaningful talks'

Peshawar, Feb 1(ANI): Preliminary talks held recently by the US and Afghanistan's Hizb-i-Islami resistance group have created the opportunity for more meaningful talks in the future, a political adviser to the group's leader Gulbadin Hikmatyar has said.

"We have not received any positive response so far, but we favour meaningful dialogue with the Americans," The Dawn quoted Ghairat Baheer, as saying at a conference titled The Afghan Issue: Regional Implications and Suggestions for Sustainable Peace".

The conference was organised by a think-tank, the Centre for Discussions and Solution in the wake of the ongoing peace talks between the US and Taliban.

Baheer said that he met CIA chief Gen (retired) David Petraeus, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO Commander John R. Allen to discuss the Afghan situation.

"We have realised that Americans have no solution for the Afghan issue. Despite that, Hizb-i-Islami is ready to continue talks," he added.

He warned that the Karzai government would fall after the withdrawal of NATO forces from the country.

A joint declaration issued on the occasion said that a durable settlement of the Afghan conflict required an 'Afghan solution'.

"A solution imposed by the foreigners cannot yield long term peace. In this pursuit of an all-Afghan solution for stability, the international community should truly commit to the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs of Afghanistan," the declaration added.

It called for instituting a fully inclusive reconciliation process to facilitate the intra-Afghan settlement in accordance with the religious, cultural and tribal values of the Afghan society. (ANI)