'This political reconciliation must succeed. ... We wish that the U.S. leaves Afghanistan as friend of the region, not as a failure.'
- Ghafoor
'The army spokesman added that Washington is seeking Islamabad's cooperation to encourage Taliban leaders to engage in Afghan peace negotiations.''ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's military says it is taking "every step" required to help the United States successfully achieve a political reconciliation in Afghanistan and exit the war-shattered country "as friend of the region, not as a failure."
The statement comes a day after U.S. special envoy for Afghan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, visited Islamabad and sought cooperation from the Pakistani leadership for Washington's renewed push for finding a negotiated end to the 17-year-old war with the Taliban.
Army spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor told reporters in Rawalpindi, where the military is headquartered, that Pakistan has long called for resolving Afghan conflict through political means and a U.S.-initiated peace process has gained momentum lately.
"This political reconciliation must succeed. ... We wish that the U.S. leaves Afghanistan as friend of the region, not as a failure," Ghafoor said, without elaborating further.
The army spokesman added that Washington is seeking Islamabad's cooperation to encourage Taliban leaders to engage in Afghan peace negotiations.
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Pakistan Urges US to Leave Afghanistan 'As Friend of the Region', December 6, 2018
Context'..skeptical of waging comprehensive counterinsurgency warfare in distant foreign lands.'End the war