PHOTO: AFP
The government sent Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke to Karzai over the phone on Monday night and sought his government’s help to enhance border security and to stop fleeing militants from entering Afghan territory.
“I can confirm the foreign secretary called on President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday and discussed the military operation in North Waziristan and also asked for his government’s cooperation,” a diplomatic source in Kabul told The Express Tribune.
However both, Afghanistan and Pakistan have not issued any formal statement about the meeting.
Diplomatic sources said the foreign secretary has also held other meetings in Kabul during his day-long visit to the Afghan capital.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has told President Karzai that he will send a special envoy for further discussions in regards to Waziristan operation as security officials are concerned about the possibility of militants fleeing into Afghanistan.
Karzai calls Nawaz
Afghanistan president also telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed the developments which took place in the meeting with special envoy Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Radio Pakistan reported.
Karzai’s office has confirmed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif informed the Afghanistan president about the military operation against militants in North Waziristan and sought Afghanistan’s help.
According to a statement issued on the Afghan presidential palace’s website, Karazi has offered complete cooperation. “President Hamid Karzai, told the Pakistani Prime Minister that his government would extend complete cooperation until all sanctuaries of terrorists on the other side of the Durand Line are eliminated.”
When the army issued a formal statement about the operation, it had stated that the Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police have also been requested to seal the border on their side to facilitate elimination of terrorists fleeing across the border.
“They have also been requested to initiate immediate measures to eliminate terrorists and their sanctuaries in Kunar, Nuristan and other areas of Afghanistan,” the statement said.
"The Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif agreed with all parts of an Afghan that both countries should jointly fight with all terrorists. Safe havens of terrorists should be dismantled and there should be a road-map to coordinate the joint struggle," a statement from Karzai's office said.
It was decided that an Afghan delegation would also soon visit Islamabad to carry a special letter from President Karzai that would list some proposals and would also discuss future plans with Pakistani side.
President Karzai also underscored the need to coordinate with the anti-terror war strategy with all key regional players, the statement said, adding: "the Afghan President also called for extra care to avoid civilian casualties during the war on terror.
Afghanistan foreign ministry says the country’s security forces will not allow “terrorists” to enter their side of the border as a result of major operation in North Waziristan.
It was decided that an Afghan delegation would soon visit Islamabad to carry a special letter from President Karzai that would list some proposals and would also discuss future plans with Pakistani side.
Pakistan and Afghanistan, whose relations have been tense in recent months over allegations of cross-border attacks, have increased high level interaction in view of the Waziristan operation.
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The request to Afghanistan to seal borders has been belatedly made as the terrorists might have crossed border by now. Karzai will only act if Pak forces act against so called good Taliban who only attack Afghanistan otherwise stalemate would continue.
Karzai's writ probably extends no further than his toilet.
He will also say whatever the Indians tell hom to say.
We need to secure our borders ourselves.
@unbelievable: I agree that it is unlikely that Afghanistan would help since it has always been an Indian puppet state for the last 60 years. A lot of these criminals operate freely from across the border in Afghanistan in support of Indian agencies - that's why Afghanistan refused to allow Pakistan to mine or seal the border.
@unbelievable: apply with afghan government for your appointment as adviser to karzai....1+1 would be 11. then it would be easier to harp over the past .
It hurts me when PMLn gives importance to bureaucracy over politicians. Why there is no foreign minister? Ch. Allah Daad have you any good explanation for it?
I would love to see a video of that meeting. Takes some gall to ask Afghanistan to close down borders and deny sanctuary when you have been providing sanctuary and assisting the Haqqani and Quetta Shura for the past 12+ years. . It's unlikely that Karsai will lift a finger until he see's concrete evidence that Pakistan is actually attacking the Haqqani, has closed down the Quetta Shura, and is actively seeking the capture of Mullah Omar. He may also demand that any Afghan Taliban currently in Pakistan prisons be handed over to Afghanistan.