Just days after Joe Biden took charge of the US administration, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi advised the new administration to “preserve” the Afghan peace process and not to “reverse the things”.

Qureshi's statement came just a few days after Anthony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said the US should retain some troops in Afghanistan to deal with the resurgence of any future terrorism threats. A move, the Taliban would certainly call the violation of the Doha deal.

During an interview with Al Jazeera, Qureshi said, “ (they) should realize that there is a real opportunity in Afghanistan.” He further asked the US to “push them forward, because after a long time we have started moving in the right direction.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s role in the peace process, Qureshi said, they had bent backward to create a suitable environment for peace talks. “We are concerned because we feel the violence can vitiate the atmosphere,” he added.

Rising violence in Afghanistan has emerged as a challenge in the continuity of the Afghan peace process. So far, the Taliban has refused to agree on a ceasefire until there is an agreement on the future political structure of the Government.