One more day: Afghan leader to stay a day longer

ISLAMABAD:

The Afghan president’s official spokesperson, Aimal Faizi, announced a day’s extension in Hamid Karzai’s stay in Pakistan on a request of the premier to discuss the peace process further.

“President Karzai and members of the Afghan delegation will continue meetings on Tuesday to hold further discussion on the issue of Pakistan’s role to bring Taliban to the negotiating table, release of the Taliban prisoners and to remove misunderstanding in both countries,” Faizi said.

“We are hopeful that the talks will produce positive results and Pakistan will give a positive response to our request to bring the Taliban leaders, who are living in Pakistan, to the negotiation table,” the Afghan spokesman said.

He said that details about the peace talks with the Taliban will be discussed as both sides had not reached any decision yet. Faizi said that Pakistan had not made any commitment yet on the main issues, however, negotiations will continue.

The head of the Afghan High Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani and other members will hold more talks on possible contacts with the Taliban, The Express Tribune has learnt.

President Karzai will hold more talks with Pakistani leaders. Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry also confirmed that the Afghan leader’s visit has been extended, adding that President Karzai will have a luncheon meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today (Tuesday).

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2013.