RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has welcomed the initiatives for ceasefire in Afghanistan during Eidul Fitr, mooted first by the Afghan government and then also by the Afghan Taliban.

Terming it a positive first step towards promoting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, Shahbaz said the PML-N government had played a pivotal role in initiating steps for peace in Afghanistan, including hosting the first ever direct, face-to-face talks between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban in Murree in July 2015.

He pledged that if the PML-N returns to office after the July 25 general elections, it will be his top priority as the Prime Minister of Pakistan to promote peace in Afghanistan as peace there is inextricably intertwined with peace and security in Pakistan.

The PML-N head said the people and valiant armed forces of Pakistan have paid a heavy price for peace as over 70,000 soldiers and civilians have been martyred and wounded since 9/11.