‘Pak, Afghan must work closely for peace’
29 Aug 2013 5:20 AM IST
Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work closely to bring peace to the region, Prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday after extended talks with Afghan president Hamid Karzai.
Karzai prolonged his visit to Pakistan by a day at Sharif’s request and the two leaders discussed regional security issues in the hill station of Murree. The meeting, which is understood to have focussed on ‘core and much harder issues’, was also attended by powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
‘Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work closely to bring peace in the region. We have common challenges and huge opportunities before us. Our security and future prosperity is linked to that of Afghanistan in multiple ways,’ Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
Pakistan attaches ‘importance to a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan,’ he said. Sharif underlined that Pakistan will continue to support the Afghan reconciliation process, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Karzai left for Kabul shortly after Sharif hosted a lunch hosted in his honour at Murree. The Prime minister’s Special Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, saw him off at Nur Khan airbase. Earlier, Sharif and Karzai held a one-on-one meeting in Islamabad this morning and exchanged views on bilateral issues and the regional situation, with particular focus on the withdrawal of US-led NATO troops from Afghanistan next year.
They also discussed the border situation and cooperation in the war against terrorism. Karzai once again requested the Pakistan government to assist in the Afghan reconciliation process to bring peace and stability to his country. Media reports today said that much of the time in talks yesterday had been consumed by the economic agenda and the extension of Karzai’s visit would provide the two sides an opportunity to discuss thorny issues that have repeatedly affected bilateral relations.
In the extended talks, the two sides would focus on ‘core and much harder issues’ such as fighting terrorism and talking to ‘reconcilable Taliban’, the Dawn newspaper had quoted diplomatic sources as saying. During his talks with Sharif yesterday, Karzai had pitched for a joint campaign against extremism and sought Pakistan’s cooperation to jump start the troubled peace process with the Taliban in his war-torn country.
Noting that he and Sharif had discussed all issues of mutual concern, Karzai said, ‘We discussed in this regard, primarily and with emphasis, the issue of a joint fight against extremism and reconciliation in Afghanistan with the expectation that the government of Pakistan will facilitate and help in manners it can to the peace process in Afghanistan and providing opportunities on all platforms for talks between the Afghan High Peace Council and the Taliban movement.’
Sharif, on his part, promised to extend all possible facilitation. Karzai said the primary concern for both countries is the lack of security for their citizens and the continued menace of terrorism. ‘It is this area that needs to have primary focussed attention by both countries,’ he said.
‘It is with hope on this that I have come to Pakistan and to advance efforts and action together so that we can have peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan,’ he added.
Karzai prolonged his visit to Pakistan by a day at Sharif’s request and the two leaders discussed regional security issues in the hill station of Murree. The meeting, which is understood to have focussed on ‘core and much harder issues’, was also attended by powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
‘Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work closely to bring peace in the region. We have common challenges and huge opportunities before us. Our security and future prosperity is linked to that of Afghanistan in multiple ways,’ Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
Pakistan attaches ‘importance to a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan,’ he said. Sharif underlined that Pakistan will continue to support the Afghan reconciliation process, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Karzai left for Kabul shortly after Sharif hosted a lunch hosted in his honour at Murree. The Prime minister’s Special Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, saw him off at Nur Khan airbase. Earlier, Sharif and Karzai held a one-on-one meeting in Islamabad this morning and exchanged views on bilateral issues and the regional situation, with particular focus on the withdrawal of US-led NATO troops from Afghanistan next year.
They also discussed the border situation and cooperation in the war against terrorism. Karzai once again requested the Pakistan government to assist in the Afghan reconciliation process to bring peace and stability to his country. Media reports today said that much of the time in talks yesterday had been consumed by the economic agenda and the extension of Karzai’s visit would provide the two sides an opportunity to discuss thorny issues that have repeatedly affected bilateral relations.
In the extended talks, the two sides would focus on ‘core and much harder issues’ such as fighting terrorism and talking to ‘reconcilable Taliban’, the Dawn newspaper had quoted diplomatic sources as saying. During his talks with Sharif yesterday, Karzai had pitched for a joint campaign against extremism and sought Pakistan’s cooperation to jump start the troubled peace process with the Taliban in his war-torn country.
Noting that he and Sharif had discussed all issues of mutual concern, Karzai said, ‘We discussed in this regard, primarily and with emphasis, the issue of a joint fight against extremism and reconciliation in Afghanistan with the expectation that the government of Pakistan will facilitate and help in manners it can to the peace process in Afghanistan and providing opportunities on all platforms for talks between the Afghan High Peace Council and the Taliban movement.’
Sharif, on his part, promised to extend all possible facilitation. Karzai said the primary concern for both countries is the lack of security for their citizens and the continued menace of terrorism. ‘It is this area that needs to have primary focussed attention by both countries,’ he said.
‘It is with hope on this that I have come to Pakistan and to advance efforts and action together so that we can have peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan,’ he added.
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