High-level talks: Pakistan, Afghanistan vow to resume dialogue

Say political process essential for ending stalemate, finding peaceful solution to conflict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed on the framework to work towards creating conducive environment for political process, which the two sides said, is essential for breaking the stalemate and finding a peaceful solution to the long running conflict in the war-torn country.

The agreement was reached during the high-level talks between army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul on Sunday, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Gen Qamar was accompanied by head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Naveed Mukhtar, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and other senior military officials.

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is being presented a guard of honour in Kabul. PHOTO: ISPR



From Afghan side Afghan second Vice President, First Deputy Chief Executive officer, second Deputy Chief Executive officer, National Security Adviser, NDS (National Directorate of Security) Chief, defence minister, interior minister, Afghan to Pakistan and Afghan army chief attended the meeting.

This was the first high-level visit by any top level delegation from Pakistan in recent months suggesting a renewed push by the two sides to overcome their differences on how to find the threat of terrorism.

The two sides have long accused each other of turning a blind eye towards certain militant outfits operating along the Pak-Afghan border. Afghanistan has pointed a finger at Pakistan for supporting and harbouring Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network while Islamabad says that Kabul has done little against outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.

Against this backdrop, the two sides at the Presidential Palace in Kabul reviewed the prevailing security environment in the region in general and state of bilateral relationship in particular.

The one-on-one meeting with President Ashraf Ghani at Presidential Palace was followed by delegation-level talk, according to the ISPR.



Afghan president said that Afghanistan and Pakistan are friendly countries and together both shall move towards enduring peace and stability.

During the meetings, issues of common interest came under discussion. An exchange of views and perspectives spanned the full range of Pak-Afghan relationship. Issues related to long-term peace, cooperation against the shared threats, coordination between respective counter-terrorism campaigns to restrict space for non-state actors, intelligence sharing, trade and commerce, and people-to-people contacts were discussed.

The army chief offered Pakistan’s complete support in achieving shared interests in war against terrorism including training and capacity building of Afghan Security Forces.

Both sides agreed on the framework for working towards peaceable environment conducive to political process essential for an enduring Afghan peace and regional stability, the statement said.

It further said there was also a consensus on regular and focused dialogue at multiple levels to evolve bilateral process for minimising misunderstanding, managing crisis situations and enhancing cooperation in order to bring peace and stability in the region.