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The U.S President Donald Trump has requested for the assistance of Pakistan to help in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table to end the Afghanistan war. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan said that he had received a letter from Trump stating how the war in Afghanistan had cost both the United States and Pakistan. Khan’s government summoned the U.S envoy to Pakistan last month after Trump spoke with Fox News that Islamabad had harbored al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Khan angrily responded to the claim from Trump that Islamabad wasn’t doing a damn thing for us. He also said that Pakistan had lost 75,000 lives and cost it $120 billion in the war.  On Monday, Khan referred to this in a statement when he said, “Trump had acknowledged that the war had cost both USA and Pakistan”.

Imran Khan also emphasized that Pakistan and the United States should explore opportunities to work together and renew partnership. The government of Pakistan welcomed the decision of the United States for negotiations. Paki government said that “Pakistan has always supported a political settlement to end the war in Afghanistan”. A Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted the statement that Pakistan reiterates its commitment to play a facilitation role in good faith. Peace and stability in Afghanistan remain a shared responsibility. The letter was the first direct communication between the two leaders since Khan took power in August. Trump has said he wants to bring home the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan as part of Operation Resolute Support and a separate counterterrorism mission against militant groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State militant group. The U.S officials need Pakistan to pressure Taliban leaders and bring them to the negotiating table.