Pakistan today expressed support for peace efforts in Afghanistan, hours after the Taliban announced its first ceasefire in the war-torn country in nearly 17 years.
On Thursday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani offered a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban for Eid.
It is the first time since the 2001 US invasion that the Taliban militants have declared a ceasefire in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement after the Taliban announced temporary ceasefire for days around Eid.
"Pakistan wishes to reiterate its support of recent peace initiatives in Afghanistan. We particularly support all Afghan-owned and Afghan-led efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan," it said.
US Foreign Secretary Mike Pompeo called Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed the Afghan issue.
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Meanwhile, the army said that it has nothing to do with the brief abduction of rights activist Gul Bukhari, 52, a dual Pakistan-British national, who was kidnapped by unknown men on Tuesday night in Lahore while she was going to participate in a TV show and released early Wednesday.
Nobody claimed the kidnapping and Bukhari did not accuse anyone after her release.
"We have nothing to do with it. I think this incident should be investigated thoroughly," army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said.
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