President Karzai in Islamabad to press for Taliban talks

Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad on a daylong visit on Monday for talks, focusing on Pakistan’s role to bring Taliban to the negotiation table, officials and diplomats said.  

The Afghan President was accorded warm welcome on his arrival at a military airbase near Islamabad.  

The Afghan President is accompanied by a high-level delegation including Cabinet Ministers, Senior Officials and members of the Afghan peace council, a powerful forum set up for talks with insurgents, officials said.

This is the first highest-level exchange between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the democratic transition and swearing-in of the new government in June.

Officials say that President Karzai will hold one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and both leaders will later be joined by delegates. Both the leaders are likely to read out statements at a joint stakeout after their talks. 

The Afghan President will also call on his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari. He will be guest at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Afghan embassy building at diplomatic enclave, the embassy sources said.  

Afghan ambassador in Islamabad, Umer Daudzai, said that leaders of the two countries will also explore ways to increase cooperation on security issues and economic field.

In Kabul Presidential palace said Mr Karzai will discuss with Pakistani leaders joint fight against terrorism and extremism, peace process and expansion of ties between the two countries.

Daudzai said Kabul will seek “Pakistan’s practical steps” to push Afghan peace process and to facilitate talks between the Taliban and the Afghan High Peace Council.

Asked if President Karzai will call for the release of more Afghan Taliban detainees still in Pakistan’s custody, he said Kabul wants the release of all Afghan prisoners who are not facing criminal charges in Pakistan.

“We want all Afghans detained in Pakistan without any judicial orders and without committing any crimes set free, particularly Afghan Taliban who fall in this category and those Taliban whose release can benefit the peace process we are obviously seeking their release,” he said.

Pakistan has freed 26 Afghan Taliban leaders including former ministers and governors since the process had started in November last year.

He is accompanied by Foreign Minister, Dr Zalmai Rasoul, National Security Advisor, Dr Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, Commerce Minister, Dr Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, Chairman of High Peace Council, Salahuddin Rabbani, head of the security transition, Dr Ashraf Ghani, Deputy Foreign Minister, Irshad Ahmadi, President’s Chief of Staff, Abdul Karim Khurram, Senior Advisor to the President, Humaira Etemadi Ludin and Presidential spokesman and Aimal Faizi. Afghan Finance Minister, Dr Umar Zakhelwal, who was in Islamabad for talks on economic cooperation, will join the President entourage.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Aug 26 2013. Filed under Latest News, 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.