WASHINGTON: US-Pakistan security talks are focusing on Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate reconciliation between the Taliban and Afghan government, diplomatic observers say.

The observers, who are monitoring ISI chief Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar’s meetings in Washington, said that he had had a series of meetings with senior US security officials since he arrived here on Monday.

Pakistan’s chief sleuth, who has come with his Director General Counter-terrorism Maj Gen Tariq Qudus, is meeting US policymakers as well as security officials at the National Security Council, the Department of State and the Pentagon.

Take a look: Pakistan, Afghanistan deepening military ties

Lt Gen Akhtar, who is a guest of CIA chief John Owen Brennan, will also visit headquarters of the US Central Command in Tampa, Florida. The Centcom is responsible for all US military efforts in the Pak-Afghan region as well as the Middle East.

Earlier this week, the State Department noted that Pakistan was cooperating with the Afghan government in negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban.

The Pakistani delegation is also likely to raise the issue of the banned TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah’s activities, who has been hiding in Afghanistan since he escaped the military operation in Swat two years ago.

The United States is very keen on arranging a peace deal in Kabul, which it believes will pave the way for a complete withdrawal of US troops from the war-ravaged country.

The United States, which had more than 1000,000 troops in Afghanistan until last year, ended its combat mission in that country in December, 2014.

But it is maintaining a small residual force to train Afghan security forces and also to help them conduct major anti-terrorism operations.

The Obama administration had originally planned to pull all its troops from Afghanistan in two years. But in recent statements, US officials have indicated that they may prolong their stay if the security situation required them to do so.

Baqir Sajjad Syed in Islamabad adds: Lt Gen Akhtar is on a five-day trip to the US for discussions on intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism cooperation and imminent peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government – a process that Pakistan is midwifing.

In an unusual announcement about the spymaster’s trip, a statement issued by the military’s public affairs division ISPR on Wednesday said: “DG ISI proceeded to USA for an official visit”.

The brief statement further said that “during the visit he will meet his counterparts and discuss intelligence-related issues.”

Gen Akhtar is accompanied by the head of ISI’s counter-terrorism wing Maj Gen Tariq Quddus. They are expected to return on Thursday.

This is Gen Akhtar’s first official visit to the US since he assumed charge last year, but it comes at a time when the Afghan reconciliation talks between Ashraf Ghani government and Taliban are set to begin.

During his talks in Washington, Gen Akhtar has reportedly discussed Operation Zarb-e-Azb and other steps taken by the government to counter extremist violence after the Peshawar school attack.

The ISI chief also shared Islamabad’s concerns about India, a source said.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play