Pakistan-Afghanistan-ISAF meeting this week

ISAF deputy commander says while they are managing, but reopening supply routes would be extremely helpful.

RAWALPINDI/ WASHINGTON: A trilateral meeting between the military authorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi later this week.     

It will be in continuation with the regular meetings held under the Tripartite Commission Framework.

According to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the talks will focus on enhancing the efficiency of border coordination measures along the Pak-Afghan border and to improve multilateral mechanisms at operational and tactical levels.

General John Allen will lead the ISAF delegation and Chief of General Staff of the Afghan army General Sher Muhammad Karimi will head the Afghanistan delegation.

Talks being held with Pakistan's military: ISAF Deputy Commander

ISAF Deputy Commander and British Army Lt. Gen. Adrian Bradshaw said that they are in talks with their Pakistani colleagues on re-opening the NATO supply routes.

Briefing reporters at the Pentagon via satellite, the ISAF deputy commander said that while they were managing without the NATO supply routes, it would be “extremely helpful” if they had access to them.

“Pakistan would derive some financial benefit as well,” Bradshaw remarked.

He added that they hoped to sort out the issues that forced the closure of the NATO supply routes, calling it highly regrettable step.

The ISAF Deputy Commander further said, “I have to tell you in our on-going talks with Pakistani military colleagues there is the rebuilding of a very good relationship.”

He added that Pakistan and ISAF have a common interest in dealing with the terrorist network.

“Things are moving in the right direction.”

On the subject of the Haqqani Network, Bradshaw said that they are dealing with the threat and taking it very seriously, however he said that the network was not succeeding in many of their plots and that the momentum of the insurgency had been reversed in 2011 leading into early 2012 as well.