The peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban is going to be signed in the presence of Pakistan’s envoy, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday.

“The deal will be signed in the presence of Pakistan because it was impossible for the deal to come through without our efforts,” he said.

“Pakistan has played its role in the peace process with wholeheartedness and honesty and it is now incumbent upon the Afghan government to do the same,” further added.

Pakistani foreign minister also said that efforts were underway to start intra-Afghan talks as well.

The remarks come as the week-long reduction in violence begun on Friday night.

Elsewhere, welcoming the reduction in violence, some religious scholars have called on warring sides to declare a countrywide ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Afghan security forces say they have stopped fighting the Taliban, but they are fully prepared to retaliate if the Taliban carry out any attack.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has also called the reduction of violence a step towards peace and a ceasefire.

Arezo News – Humayun Salimi