A close aide of Pakistan's prime minster says he is optimistic the stalled peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban will resume soon in the interest of peace in Afghanistan, AP reported. The talks were indefinitely postponed following last week's announcement that the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar has died. The announcement has triggered a succession dispute and revealed growing rifts within the two-decade-old Afghan insurgent group. Pakistan, which is believed to wield influence over the group, hosted the first round of the talks earlier in July. Tariq Fatemi, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's special assistant on foreign affairs, spoke on Wednesday during a meeting the U.N. envoy to Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto. Fatemi says he is "confident the talks will resume soon and help in paving way for peace and stability in Afghanistan."
