Afghan President Hamid Karzai. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai will travel to Pakistan this month in the hope of breathing life into moribund peace process with the Taliban and mending a frayed relationship between the neighbours, Afghan officials said on Monday.
The role of Pakistan is seen as critical to efforts to get the Afghan Taliban to sit down to talks about ending the 12-year war as most foreign troops prepare to pull out of Afghanistan by the end of next year.
Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the capital of the Gulf State of Qatar, Doha, were announced in June only to be cancelled following Karzai's anger over the Taliban displaying a banner and a flag, harking back to their repressive rule over Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
"I can confirm that President Karzai is travelling to Pakistan later this month," Afghanistan's ambassador to Islamabad, Omer Daudzai, told Reuters.
The trip will be Karzai's first visit to Pakistan since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was elected. Many had hoped Sharif's election would lead to a reset in the relationship.
Those hopes were dashed after Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry accused Pakistan of having raised the idea of power-sharing between the Kabul government and the Taliban. Pakistan denied the accusation.
Karzai has made 19 trips to Pakistan since coming to power in 2002, and has come away with many promises, but few results.
Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of playing a double game regarding the Taliban, with some Afghan officials saying their neighbour makes public pronouncements about peace but allows elements of its military and intelligence complex to play a spoiling role.
Karzai will visit Pakistan from August26 - 28. The leadership of the High Peace Council, the body created by Karzai in 2010 to broker peace with the Taliban, will also attend, a spokesperson said.
The Taliban have been waging an insurgency to overthrow Karzai's government and oust foreign troops. They say they want a political solution that would bring about a just government based on Islamic principles and the end of foreign occupation.
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Is the Brit PM laso going to drop in? +++++++++++++++++++++++++ It seems it is his hobby to play peacemaker between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
@Mac and @Allan: What would you say about the this US' official's statement about India few days ago in which he said that India's presence in Afghanistan is threat for security?????
I think it is better for Pakistan and India to solve their problem and don't drag us for their enmity. We are fed up with their competition in our country.
The Afghan President hasn't learnt anything from his past experiences with Pakistan. This time too there will be no surprises as Karzai would either return empty handed or with false promises which shall never be honored by Pakistan.
Pakistan government must tell him to expect no co-operation from our side, unless he shuts down Indian terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. Moreover, Karzai must also account to the government over activities of hostile factors whose primary source of support originates in Afghanistan.
@PatrioticPakistani: What about the large number of Indian Consulates operating in Afghanistan and promoting terorism in Pakistan???
This video says it all. Indians can enjoy and Pakistanis can envy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ohYB7ZbjmE
We cannot over emphasize the importance of shared cooperation between the regional partners. We are fighting the same terrorists and suffering at the hands of the same terrorists. The seriousness of the situation requires us to work together against our common enemies. Our common enemies are not wasting any time in countering our peace efforts in the region. They continue to claim innocent lives in their bid to destabilize the region. They did not show any respect for the holy month of Ramadan and even continued their terrorist activities’ during the Eid-ul-Fitr Celebrations. It is important to note that these attacks were conducted on both sides of the border. So, does it make sense to indulge in the blame game when we are making common sacrifices? It only makes sense for us to create a healthy partnership and combine our strength against those who pose a threat to the safety of our nations.
Ali Khan
@PatrioticPakistani:
What do you call large? 50, 100, or 200. Please name all the 'large' consulates operating in Afghanistan.
I believe there are two Indian consulates. Not every country is double dealing in a state of endless paranoia only depending on terrorism. That's your own disease. Its not how the rest of the world works.
I see Mr. Karzai is wasting his time meeting with civilian leaders that have no affect on the daily activities of Pakistani "assets"
@Mac: What about the large number of Indian Consulates operating in Afghanistan and promoting terorism in Pakistan???
high time Mr Karzai include Pakistan Taliban also in the peace talks as two Talibans are likely to operate in tandem post 2014.
@Pakistani bloach:
India can name 99.9% of terror camps in Pakistan. Can you name some of India's terror camps inside Afghanstan.
@Pakistani bloach terror camps of India and Israel? haha..hahahahah..ha
pakistan should ask president to close terror camps of india nd Israel.
Ask Karzai to bring Manmohan Singh and sort this menace out before it finishes you all!