Increasing thaw: Islamabad, Kabul to begin talks on strategic deal

Afghan FM to visit Islamabad later this week; move comes following recent release of Taliban prisoners.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Afghanistan are all set to formally open talks to finalise a long-term “strategic agreement” when Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Zalmai Rassoul visits Islamabad later this week, officials said.

The two neighbours agreed to sign a strategic cooperation agreement in September during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on the fringes of the UN General Assembly session.

However, formal negotiations could not begin due to a deadlock over the release of some Afghan Taliban prisoners from Pakistani jails.

Originally, Foreign Minister Rassoul was scheduled to visit Islamabad last month, but his trip was postponed. The tour was rescheduled after the deadlock broke earlier this month, when Pakistan released at least 13 Taliban prisoners at the end of a visit by the Afghan High Peace Council led by its chief Salahuddin Rabbani.

A senior foreign ministry official confirmed to The Express Tribune that the two neighbours would formally begin negotiations on a strategic agreement during the Afghan foreign minister’s visit.

Kabul had signed similar pacts with the United States and India. But Pakistan is believed to have been increasingly concerned about the strategic accord with New Delhi, and hence, also wanted to have the same with its western neighbour.

“A long-term strategic agreement will certainly be beneficial for the two countries,” said an official requesting anonymity.



He said the two countries were expecting to conclude the agreement by the end of next year. “We both want to have a clear roadmap for our ties before the Isaf forces leave Afghanistan,” the official added.

He said Pakistan’s decision to accept Afghanistan’s longstanding demand of releasing Taliban prisoners shows that “we are backing our words with actions.”

Mullah Baradar

According to diplomatic sources, the Afghan foreign minister is also likely to take up the issue of former Taliban No 2 Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was captured by security forces from Karachi in February 2010.

American officials believe that besides running the Taliban’s military operations, Mullah Baradar also headed the so-called Quetta Shura.

At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly holding peace talks with the Afghan government and also met President Hamid Karzai.

Afghan officials insist Mullah Baradar can play a crucial role in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table.

Pakistan said it will consider freeing him, if recent releases of lower level members help to advance peace efforts.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2012.