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| Pakistan 'walking the talk' on peace in Afghanistan | Pakistan 'walking the talk' on peace in Afghanistan |
| (8 days later) | |
| Pakistan is "walking the talk" on peace in Afghanistan, the country's foreign minister claimed on Thursday. | Pakistan is "walking the talk" on peace in Afghanistan, the country's foreign minister claimed on Thursday. |
| Hina Rabbani Khar has long said that Pakistan will do whatever it takes to help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table – including the release of more insurgent prisoners held by Pakistan. | Hina Rabbani Khar has long said that Pakistan will do whatever it takes to help bring the Taliban to the negotiating table – including the release of more insurgent prisoners held by Pakistan. |
| But given Pakistan's history of secretly backing the insurgency, which Islamabad has viewed as a useful ally to counter Indian influence in Afghanistan, many remain to be convinced of her sincerity. | But given Pakistan's history of secretly backing the insurgency, which Islamabad has viewed as a useful ally to counter Indian influence in Afghanistan, many remain to be convinced of her sincerity. |
| On Thursday she made her latest effort to persuade Kabul, and the world. | On Thursday she made her latest effort to persuade Kabul, and the world. |
| During a rare visit by the Afghan foreign minister, Zalmai Rasoul, to Islamabad, Khar and her colleagues agreed a number of steps, all of which they hope shows Pakistan is playing the role of good neighbour. | During a rare visit by the Afghan foreign minister, Zalmai Rasoul, to Islamabad, Khar and her colleagues agreed a number of steps, all of which they hope shows Pakistan is playing the role of good neighbour. |
| In a joint statement released on Friday night, the two sides had agreed to the release of more prisoners, following the decision in mid-November to free more than a dozen Taliban held in Pakistan. | In a joint statement released on Friday night, the two sides had agreed to the release of more prisoners, following the decision in mid-November to free more than a dozen Taliban held in Pakistan. |
| Afghanistan hopes the men, who were released unconditionally rather than into Afghan custody, will act as go-betweens in discussions between the insurgency and the government in Kabul. | Afghanistan hopes the men, who were released unconditionally rather than into Afghan custody, will act as go-betweens in discussions between the insurgency and the government in Kabul. |
| President Hamid Karzai's government is particularly pressing for the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a former deputy head of the Taliban movement who was arrested in Karachi after holding talks with Kabul without the knowledge of Pakistan. | President Hamid Karzai's government is particularly pressing for the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a former deputy head of the Taliban movement who was arrested in Karachi after holding talks with Kabul without the knowledge of Pakistan. |
| Also of great significance, a draft proposal of a long-term strategic partnership agreement was presented to the Afghan side. Concluding a partnership deal will be controversial in Afghanistan, where Pakistan is still widely hated. | Also of great significance, a draft proposal of a long-term strategic partnership agreement was presented to the Afghan side. Concluding a partnership deal will be controversial in Afghanistan, where Pakistan is still widely hated. |
| In October Karzai sparked a row with Islamabad after he declared that the pre-conditions for any agreement would be that "terrorism is stopped, extremism is dismantled, anti-Afghan activities are stopped" and "destruction of Afghanistan is stopped". | In October Karzai sparked a row with Islamabad after he declared that the pre-conditions for any agreement would be that "terrorism is stopped, extremism is dismantled, anti-Afghan activities are stopped" and "destruction of Afghanistan is stopped". |
| Islamabad agreed to support an Afghan plan to host a conference of top Islamic scholars from Pakistan and Afghanistan who will mount a religious challenge to the Taliban, particularly its use of suicide bombers. | Islamabad agreed to support an Afghan plan to host a conference of top Islamic scholars from Pakistan and Afghanistan who will mount a religious challenge to the Taliban, particularly its use of suicide bombers. |
| Both countries said they would extend an embryonic regional free trade agreement to Tajikistan, one of Afghanistan's northern neighbours. The hope is that transit trade running from the Pakistani sea ports on the Arabian Sea all the way to central Asia and beyond will enrich all the countries involved. | Both countries said they would extend an embryonic regional free trade agreement to Tajikistan, one of Afghanistan's northern neighbours. The hope is that transit trade running from the Pakistani sea ports on the Arabian Sea all the way to central Asia and beyond will enrich all the countries involved. |
| A Pakistani official described these as "positive measures" and a "big step, given some of the cynical questions that goes on". | A Pakistani official described these as "positive measures" and a "big step, given some of the cynical questions that goes on". |
| For her part Khar dismissed any "historic hangovers of Pakistan having favourites or having any intention of having any control" in Afghanistan. | For her part Khar dismissed any "historic hangovers of Pakistan having favourites or having any intention of having any control" in Afghanistan. |
| Some foreign experts say there has indeed been a profound change to the way Pakistan approaches Afghanistan. | Some foreign experts say there has indeed been a profound change to the way Pakistan approaches Afghanistan. |
| Shamila Chaudhary, a former White House national security adviser on Pakistan, believes the dramatic rise in militancy and terrorism inside Pakistan has forced the country's leaders to reappraise its support for the Taliban. | Shamila Chaudhary, a former White House national security adviser on Pakistan, believes the dramatic rise in militancy and terrorism inside Pakistan has forced the country's leaders to reappraise its support for the Taliban. |
| "Pakistan no longer trusts the Taliban – or any other entity for that matter – to solely protect its interests in Afghanistan," she wrote in a recent report. | "Pakistan no longer trusts the Taliban – or any other entity for that matter – to solely protect its interests in Afghanistan," she wrote in a recent report. |
| The problem of internal militancy, Pakistani policy makers believe, will be "neutralised on its own once the Afghan Taliban joins a political process in Afghanistan", Chaudhary wrote. | The problem of internal militancy, Pakistani policy makers believe, will be "neutralised on its own once the Afghan Taliban joins a political process in Afghanistan", Chaudhary wrote. |
| Some top western diplomats who regularly meet with Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the chief of the powerful army which has traditionally controlled foreign policy, say the new realism has also sunk in among military chiefs. | Some top western diplomats who regularly meet with Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the chief of the powerful army which has traditionally controlled foreign policy, say the new realism has also sunk in among military chiefs. |
| Deep scepticism remains, however. For many the fact the Taliban insurgency remains undiminished, with no steps having been taken to curb their activities inside Pakistan, is a clear sign that the double game is still on. | Deep scepticism remains, however. For many the fact the Taliban insurgency remains undiminished, with no steps having been taken to curb their activities inside Pakistan, is a clear sign that the double game is still on. |
| Or it suggests that the policy of providing sanctuary and support for the insurgency is so ingrained within Pakistan's spy service that Kayani cannot rein them in. Or both. | Or it suggests that the policy of providing sanctuary and support for the insurgency is so ingrained within Pakistan's spy service that Kayani cannot rein them in. Or both. |
| A western official in Kabul with close involvement in efforts to start a peace process said: "Kayani is in a tricky position – either he doesn't completely control ISI elements, which would be a damaging admission, or he does, in which case he is completely complicit." | A western official in Kabul with close involvement in efforts to start a peace process said: "Kayani is in a tricky position – either he doesn't completely control ISI elements, which would be a damaging admission, or he does, in which case he is completely complicit." |
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