In a summit meeting, President Asif Zardari, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai discussed reconciliation, security and regional security.
According to a handout from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the British premier reiterated his government’s commitment “to support Afghanistan and Pakistan in working out solutions for peace and stability in the region and in their quest for socio-economic development of their people”.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working for the goals of regional peace, stability and development and for the elimination of the scourge of terrorism from the region.
President Zardari said Pakistan supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.
“President Zardari and President Karzai appreciated the constructive role being played by the United Kingdom,” said the statement by the Foreign Office.
The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Secretary General Salman Farooqi, Ambassador Masood Khan, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, National Security Adviser Kim Darroch, Cameron’s Chief of Staff Ed Llewellyn and Political Director Mark Sedwill. The Afghan delegation included Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul.
The trilateral meeting was followed by a meeting between Prime Minister Cameron and President Zardari. A representative from the Pakistan mission to the UN told reporters that President Zardari and President Karzai will also hold a bilateral meeting.
Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Javed Ludin and the head of Afghan High Peace Council, Salahuddin Rabbani, also attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2012.
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