David Cameron: ‘Now is the time’ for Taliban peace talks

Mr Cameron was speaking at the end of a tripartite summit with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, in which he said “unprecedented levels of co-operation” had been agreed between the two leaders to promote stability in the region and fight terrorism.

Now is the time for everyone to participate in a peaceful, political process in Afghanistan – David Cameron

He said of the agreement: “The progress we have achieved today sends a very clear message to the Taliban. Now is the time for everyone to participate in a peaceful, political process in Afghanistan.

“This should lead to a future where all Afghans can participate peacefully in that country’s political process.”

With British and other foreign forces preparing to withdraw next year, Mr Cameron said that it was in all three countries’ interest to achieve stability in Afghanistan.

“We share the same vision for Afghanistan – a secure, stable, democratic country that never again becomes a haven for terrorism,” he said.

“Clearly there is much more work to be done in the months ahead and the United Kingdom will continue to stand firmly behind both countries as they work together to bring stability to the region.”

Peace in Afghanistan is peace in Pakistan. We feel that we can only survive together – Asif Ali Zardari

It was the third such summit hosted by Mr Cameron this year, organised, according to Downing Street, to “discuss the Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process and how to strengthen joint efforts to address extremism and advance regional peace and stability”.

‘Frank and open’

Among the agreements were that Pakistan and Afghanistan would sign up to a strategic partnership in the autumn, and an office would be opened in the Qatari capital Doha for negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan High Peace Council.

A joint statement issued following the summit also said that Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari had agreed arrangements to strengthen co-ordination of Taliban detainee releases from Pakistani custody in support of the peace process.

Among Afghan Taliban detainees held in Pakistan is the former Taliban deputy leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Mr Karzai said the summit had been a “very frank and open discussion”, adding that he hoped relations with Pakistan in the future would be “very close, brotherly and good neighbourly”.

He also echoed Mr Cameron’s call for the Taliban to enter the peace process.

Mr Zardari said: “Peace in Afghanistan is peace in Pakistan. We feel that we can only survive together. We cannot change our neighbourhood or our neighbours.”