ISLAMABAD – Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi called Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and offered heartfelt condolences over the loss of more than 100 precious lives in a dastardly terrorist attack in Nigeria.

Foreign Minister also prayed for the safe and swift return of nearly 50 Nigerians, including women, that were reportedly taken hostages or abducted. “We are confident that our Nigerian brethren shall rise from this tragedy with resilience and forbearance”, Foreign Minister Qureshi observed.

Expressing solidarity with Nigeria, the Foreign Minister added that “Pakistan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with brotherly Nigerians in this hour of national mourning. We condemn this act of terrorism in the strongest terms.”

Appreciating Pakistan’s support and solidarity with Nigeria, and its unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attack, Foreign Minister Onyeama noted that the sentiments expressed were a source of solace and strength for the people of Nigeria.

DOHA – Afghan government and Taliban representatives said on Wednesday they had reached a preliminary deal to press on with peace talks, their first written agreement in 19 years of war and welcomed by the United Nations and Washington.

The agreement lays out the way forward for further discussion but is considered a breakthrough because it will allow negotiators to move on to more substantive issues, including talks on a ceasefire.

“The procedure including its preamble of the negotiation has been finalised and from now on, the negotiation will begin on the agenda,” Nader Nadery, a member of the Afghan government’s negotiating team, told.

The Taliban spokesman confirmed the same on Twitter.

The agreement comes after months of talks in Doha, the capital of Qatar, encouraged by the United States, while the two sides are still at war, with Taliban attacks on Afghan government forces continuing unabated.

US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that the two sides had agreed on a “three-page agreement codifying rules and procedures for their negotiations on a political roadmap and a comprehensive ceasefire”.

Taliban insurgents refused to agree to a ceasefire during the preliminary stages of talks, despite calls from Western capitals and global bodies, saying that that would be taken up only when the way forward for talks was agreed upon.

“This agreement demonstrates that the negotiating parties can agree on tough issues,” Khalilzad said on Twitter.

The Taliban were ousted from power in 2001 by US-led forces for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden, the architect of the September 11 attacks on America. A US-backed government has held power in Afghanistan since then, although the Taliban have control over wide areas of the country.

Under a February deal, foreign forces are to leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in exchange for counter-terrorism guarantees from the Taliban.

US President Donald Trump has looked to hasten the withdrawal, despite criticism, saying he wanted to see all American soldiers home by Christmas to end America’s longest war.

The Trump administration has since announced that there would be a sharp drawdown by January, but at least 2,500 troops would remain beyond then.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday warned Nato against withdrawing troops prematurely and said it should “ensure that we tie further troop reductions in Afghanistan to clear conditions”.

UN envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons welcomed the “positive development” on Twitter, adding that “this breakthrough should be a springboard to reach the peace wanted by all Afghans”.

Last month, an agreement reached between Taliban and government negotiators was held up at the last minute after the insurgents balked at the document’s preamble because it mentioned the Afghan government by name.

A European Union diplomat familiar with the process said that both sides had kept some contentious issues on the side to deal with separately.

“Both sides also know that Western powers are losing patience and aid has been conditional […] so both sides know they have to move forward to show some progress,” said the diplomat, requesting anonymity.

The official says the enhanced measures have somewhat stabilized the situation

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says his government will not extend the weekend quarantine. “We may state a positive effect has been achieved. By the end of the weekend quarantine, November 30, we had 6,000 fewer cases over the previous week than was predicted,” he said at a government meeting on Wednesday, an UNIAN correspondent reported.

According to Shmyhal, the enhanced measures of the weekend quarantine have somewhat stabilized the situation and we see “the curve being flattened in terms of bed occupancy in hospitals.”

“This allows us to lift these very restrictions. Both on the weekend and during the week, the orange zone curbs will be applicable throughout the country,” the prime minister added.

Quarantine in Ukraine

• On November 11, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to introduce the so-called weekend quarantine starting from November 14.
• The government repealed the adaptive quarantine system and imposed a nationwide quarantine with curbs for all territories that were in effect in the previous version of the coronavirus quarantine in zones with the orange risk level.
• On November 17, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, did not back a draft resolution recommending that the Ukrainian government soften the restrictions imposed along with the so-called weekend quarantine.
• On November 25, the Cabinet admitted a strict quarantine might be introduced for the period of New Year’s holidays.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, DEC 2 – Pakistan welcomed the announcement regarding the agreement reached on rules and procedures by the Afghan parties in Doha. This is another significant step forward.

The agreement reflects a common resolve of the parties to secure a negotiated settlement. It is an important development contributing towards a successful outcome of Intra-Afghan Negotiations, which we all hope for.

Pakistan will continue to support Intra-Afghan Negotiations, culminating in an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political solution paving the way for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.