Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that Pakistan has provided assistance for the dialogue between the US and Taliban in the UAE and expressed hope the talks would be successful.

“Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people. Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process” the premier tweeted.

Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the US in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people. Pakistan will be doing everything within its power to further the peace process.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 18, 2018

Pakistan on Monday successfully brought the Afghan Taliban to the table in the UAE for the latest round of talks between the militant outfit and US officials as diplomatic moves toward agreeing to the basis for talks to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan continue.

“Along with the international community and other stakeholders, Pakistan is committed to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Talks are being held in UAE. We hope this will end bloodshed in Afghanistan and bring peace to the region,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal had said.

Since the appointment of US Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation in Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the Taliban and US representatives have held meetings on three occasions.

Khalilzad led the US delegation at the talks on Monday with the Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also confirming the meeting took place.

However, Afghan government representatives were not present at the meeting owing to Taliban’s position on avoiding negotiations with the current government. The group has repeatedly insisted that it will only hold direct negotiations with the US.

However, representatives of the Afghan government held talks with US, Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Sunday. Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib also participated in the talks.

“The Afghan government supports any effort and action that paves the way for an Afghan-led peace process,” President Ashraf Ghani’s Spokesperson Shah Hussain Murtazawi said.

The meeting in Abu Dhabi was the first one sponsored by Pakistan and the first meeting outside the Qatari capital of Doha. The meeting was organised in the UAE to highlight the role Pakistan had played and allow Saudi Arabia and UAE to participate.

Last week, the US expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role in the talks.

“The United States welcomes any actions by the Pakistani government to promote greater cooperation, including fostering negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and other Afghans,” a US embassy spokesperson in Kabul told Voice of America.

Earlier this month, PM Imran received a letter from US President Donald Trump seeking Islamabad’s “assistance and facilitation in achieving a negotiated settlement of the Afghan war”.

Pakistan “welcomed” the US decision for negotiations, noting that “Pakistan has always advocated a political settlement to end war in Afghanistan”.