ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz on Saturday said, “Pakistan is trying to hold peace dialogue with Afghanistan.”

In an interview, Sartaj Aziz said, “It was disappointing that some elements in Afghanistan were not willing to have the dialogue process with Pakistan.”

“These elements are creating suspicion over Pakistan’s role,” he added.

He said that, “The dialogue between Taliban and Afghan government was hindered by the Afghan Intelligence Agency,” he said.

“The National Directorate of Security (NDS) issued reports regarding death of Mullah Omar, the former chief of Taliban, to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which led to the cancellation of second session of dialogue between Taliban and the Afghan Government,” he added.

“The doors for bilateral dialogues were further closed after the death of Mullah Omar’s successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour who was killed in a US drone strike,” he added.

“Pakistan endeavors to have a dialogue process but the condemnable statements from Afghan politicians against Pakistan are negatively impacting the environment.”

Reponding to a question, Sartaj Aziz said, “The situation in Afghanistan deteriorated after 2014 due to the massive withdrawal of international forces and increase in operations of armed insurgents.”

“Afghanistan was discontent apparently due to upsurge in violence inside the country,” he said.

Sartaj Aziz dispelled the claim of few Afghan leaders that Pakistan was aware of Mullah Omar’s death but it kept the information hidden.

Commenting on the incomprehensible statement of Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani at the Heart of Asia Conference recently held in Amritsar, Sartaj Aziz stated that, “His remarks indicated the growing frustration in Afghanistan.”

He further said, “It is imprecise to blame Pakistan for backing Taliban.”

“The Haqqani Network established in the tribal areas has been destroyed due to the ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb,” he said.

He further said that, “The Haqqani Network was no longer operating on Pakistan’s soil however the possibility of presence of scattered extremists in the country could not be overlooked.”

“Such elements were creating hurdles for the peace process of the two countries and therefore he had asked Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani at the Heart of Asia conference to make efforts for improving the security system on Pak-Afghan border,” he said.

Responding to a question regarding the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit which was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in November, he said that, “India had impaired the SAARC Summit by pulling out of the conference.”