Afghan peace negotiators meet Pakistan Army chief
RAWALPINDI: A delegation of Afghan High Peace Council headed by its chairman Salahuddin Rabbani, called on Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on Tuesday.
The Afghan delegation remained with the Army chief for some time and discussed matters of mutual interest, particularly peace process in Afghanistan, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The Afghan peace negotiators are in Pakistan on a three-day visit for talks to smooth the way out of the deadlock in the reconciliation process in the war-ravaged country.
Earlier on Monday soon after his arrival, Afghan High Peace Council Chairman Salahuddin Rabbani met Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who “assured” Rabbani that Pakistan would do “all what it takes for a peaceful Afghanistan”.
However, longstanding issues continued to challenge the reconciliation process even during the negotiators visit.
Sunday evening’s cross-border shelling by Afghan forces that caused loss of four lives on the Pakistani side was a grim reminder of the challenges the two countries confront. Afghan Ambassador Umar Daudzai was also summoned to the Foreign Office on Monday to receive a demarche over the shelling incident.