Pak-Afghan tensions: Afghan council chief’s visit delayed
Council members says more preparations necessary, did not link delay to tensions over cross-border shelling.
Salahuddin Rabbani, the head of an Afghan council for peace talks with the Taliban, has delayed a trip to Pakistan, according to an Associated Press report. The delay follows tensions over cross-border shelling that Afghanistan says the Pakistan Army is responsible for.
Rabbani was to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday to negotiate with Taliban leaders based in Pakistan. A member of the Afghanistan High Peace Council that Rabbani head said the trip had been delayed for two weeks.
Ismail Qasimyar said more preparations were necessary and did not link the delay to the tensions over cross-border shelling. However, another council member, Hameed Mubarez, said “it is not good” for Afghan officials to travel to Pakistan because of the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2012.