Hamid Karzai. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Afghan and Pakistani officials met in Islamabad on Wednesday and discussed security measures for President Hamid Karzai, who is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on a day-long visit on August 26, sources said.
An Afghan advance team comprising security and foreign ministry officials arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss with their Pakistani counterparts the security protocols for President Karzai and members of his entourage.
The team initiated their meetings at the foreign ministry in Islamabad on Wednesday and will conduct further meetings in the coming days, the sources told The Express Tribune.
President Karzai will pay his 16th official visit to Pakistan on the invitation extended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Diplomatic sources said there will be talks on a “short-term peace plan” and the idea was floated when Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz visited Kabul last month.
“Karzai and Nawaz will hold one-on-one meeting and will discuss things with an open mind,” the sources said.
“Sartaj Aziz had assured the Afghan side that President Karzai will not return to Kabul empty-handed,” the Afghan officials added.
The source also said the visit could be extended for another day if both sides make some progress in talks and require further discussions.
He also referred to Nawaz’s televised address in which he had stated that “Pakistan will have to pursue a strategy on Afghanistan that highlights bright face of the country in the comity of nations.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
There you go, again same picture which shows the level of professionality of tribune staff...