Pakistan, Afghanistan, ISAF sign border coordination agreement

Tripartite Border Coordination Mechanism signed. Kayani meets with Hamid Karzai.

KABUL: Chief of Army the Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani attended the 36th meeting of the Tripartite Commission (TPC) held at the Afghan Ministry of Defence on Tuesday.

The meeting was a part of the 'Tripartite Coordination Mechanism' and was also attended by Acting International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander Lieutenant General Nicholas Carter and Afghan General Sher Muhammad Karimi along with their delegations.

According to the Inter-services public relations (ISPR), the participants reviewed ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and adjoining tribal areas of Pakistan. The meeting oversaw the signing of an agreement for improving border coordination, the Tripartite Border Coordination Mechanism.

The participants also discussed a transition of responsibility from ISAF to ANSF as per the plan to drawdown foreign troops by 2014 and measures to gradually enhance Pakistan-Afghan bilateral border coordination arrangements.

The three sides agreed to continue cooperation for enduring success, peace and stability on both sides of the border.

Before the TPC meeting, Kayani called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace. Matters of mutual interest were discussed.