Afghan President Hamid Karzai urges Pakistan to restart NATO supply

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has advocated the resumption of NATO supply-line, citing it will help both Pakistan and Afghanistan in the larger interests.

In order to give assistance to its economy, Pakistan should impose heavy-duty charges on the supply route.

Talking to a group of journalists on Friday, the Afghan president said they were aware of US-Taliban contacts. About role of the Afghan government in the peace talks, he stated that they were ready for peace negotiations but they themselves would decide where to hold Afghan-Taliban talks.

Karzai stated that the Taliban could open office in Qatar but they will hold talks with them in Saudi Arabia or Turkey. Replying to a question about Indian influence in Afghanistan, he clarified that Pakistan does not need to worry about it as New Delhi and Islamabad were already engaged in trade agreements.

In his view, trust deficit between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the two brotherly countries, is a big hurdle in option of getting Afghan National Army trained by Pakistan.

Hamid Karzia is on a three-day visit to Pakistan to attend a trilateral summit that includes Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

On his first-day of trip, he held meetings with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari, former JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, JUI-F Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Gul Nasib, who have been associated with Afghan jihad in the past.

On Thursday, the Afghan President updated Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani about initiatives taken by his government to bring the Taliban to the dialogue-table.

He insisted on importance of Pakistan’s support for peace efforts, saying Pakistan and Afghanistan were twin brothers and hence should cooperate in the same spirit for the cause of peace and stability in region.

According to the media reports, Karzai pushed the government to arrange his meetings with Taliban leaders who are either in custody of Pakistani authorities or living in the country.

On the other hand, Pakistani leaders reiterated their backing for the peace process saying it will serve in the national interests of the two neighboring countries.

PM Gilani observed, “Pakistan supports any peace process in Afghanistan which is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned because peace, prosperity and independence of Afghanistan are in the best interest of Pakistan”.

The trilateral talks come at a time when the U.S. is engaged in negotiations with the Taliban to find a peaceful solution to the war in Afghanistan.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=12999

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 17 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.