UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has called for a diplomatic surge in the peace process in Afghanistan, reminding the world community that Prime Minister Imran Khan had long advocated a political settlement to end the brutal war.

Speaking in the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi pointed to international consensus around the notion that a negotiated settlement was the only way forward and to the willingness of the Afghanistan Government to pursue such a settlement as a positive step forward.

The decision by the United States to engage in direct talks with the Taliban was another positive development, she said, adding that Pakistan will support those talks.

"For close to two decades, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly declared that the war in Afghanistan can be brought to an end only through a negotiated political settlement," the Pakistani envoy told the 193-member Assembly during a debate on the situation in Afghanistan.

"We are gratified that this is now the universal position," Ambassador Lodhi said, while pointing out that violence in Afghanistan had escalated sharply.

"Sustainable peace requires endorsement of all regional partners," she said, referring to the efforts being made by Russia, China and other regional states to promote engagement and dialogue with and among the Afghan parties.

"It is but obvious that the people of Afghanistan desperately desire peace and an end to this long war," the Pakistani envoy said, while calling for building on this palpable desire for peace and an end to the nightmare of war.

"The challenge that lies ahead is translating this sentiment and recent developments into a serious and sustained peace process," she said, adding, "A diplomatic surge is needed to seize this opportunity."

"While the onus for seizing this opportunity rests on the parties directly involved in the Afghan conflict, Pakistan, for its part, will do what it can to support all efforts to launch a sustained peace process."

In her remarks, Ambassador Lodhi also said the people of Afghanistan have experienced violence and turmoil that undermines national and international peace and security.

Citing independent reports, she said the areas under Taliban control or influence have enlarged further. Civilian and military casualties have mounted, caused by insurgent attacks and coalition air strikes.

But she said the global community had remained steadfast in its support for the Afghan people; Pakistan too had suffered from the situation in Afghanistan.

"We opened our hearts and homes to millions of Afghan refugees and have sustained them for almost four decades, with less than adequate support from the international community," the Pakistani envoy said, noting that 2 million Afghans reside in Pakistan.

She said the Afghanistan-Pakistan action plan aims to foster closer security cooperation, and that financial assistance is being provided for infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

Pakistan is committed to regional projects that contribute to economic integration and promote South-South cooperation, she said.

The path to peace in Afghanistan was onerous, but achievable and now it was for the parties concerned to work seriously towards a negotiated solution to the conflict, Ambassador Lodhi said.

"This offers the best chance to end the suffering of the Afghan people and restore peace to Afghanistan and stability to the region," she added.