ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's foreign ministry said one-day peace talks between Afghan officials and Taliban representatives ended with both sides agreeing to meet again after the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
In a statement released today, the ministry said the talks were held Tuesday at Murree, a hill resort near Islamabad, Pakistan's capital.
During the talks, the ministry said, it was "agreed that for lasting peace in the region, each side would approach the process in sincerity and with full commitment."
Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, called the holding of the talks "a major breakthrough" in comments recorded for Pakistani TV from the Norwegian capital, Oslo, where he is on a three-day visit.
He said the overtness of the meeting was a positive development. "I hope there will be a positive outcome, which will certainly be very helpful for peace and stability in Afghanistan," he said.
Since taking office in September, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has made it a priority to find a peace settlement, even as fighting has continued in the war against the insurgency waged by the Taliban since their ouster in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Afghan forces are now bearing the brunt of the insurgency after the U.S. and NATO ended their combat role in the country at the start of the year, with Washington cutting its troop presence.
Previous efforts to start a dialogue stalled, largely because of the lack of trust and confidence between the two sides.
Ghani has enlisted the support of regional countries believed to protect, fund and arm the Taliban, including Pakistan, which is pressuring the insurgents to open a channel for peace negotiations, officials and diplomats said. Informal talks in Qatar in May ended on a hopeful note, with the Taliban expressing flexibility over some issues.
Ghani's office announced Tuesday that a delegation from the government's High Peace Council was traveling to hold the talks. One official from the council said the government representatives include Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai.
Ghani said the talks aim to "change this meeting into a process of continuing talks," as well as to build trust and to develop the agenda for any negotiations, according to a statement by his office.
The president has sought Pakistan's help in getting the Taliban to negotiate, since it is a traditional ally of the group. Nasrullah Sadieqizada, an Afghan parliament member, called the talks "Pakistani propaganda."
The White House hailed the talks and praised the Pakistani government for helping facilitate the meeting.
"This is an important step in advancing prospects for a credible peace," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "The United States commends the government of Afghanistan's prioritization of peace and reconciliation efforts with the Taliban."
Information for this article was contributed by Asif Shahzad and Julie Pace of The Associated Press.
A Section on 07/08/2015