Nawaz Sharif Willing to Mediate Between Afghan Government and Taliban

By Umer Farooq Islamabad, Asharq Al-Awsat – Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif is willing to his use influence within the Afghan leadership to bring about peace in Afghanistan, he said after attending a dinner meeting with Afghan leaders including Taliban representatives in Saudi Arabia last month. Nawaz Sharif stated that he believes that he could restore ties with contacts in the Afghan leadership in order to establish peace in the war-torn country, which, in turn, will benefit Pakistan. The former PM was the only Pakistani present during the dinner meeting held by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia for over a dozen Afghan leaders including former Taliban officials. The meeting discussed the situation in Afghanistan and potential solutions to the conflict in that... [read full story]