Pakistan and Afghanistan decided on Monday to operationalise the joint commission for peace talks with the Taliban recently set up by the two neighbours, and to hold its opening session during the visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Islamabad later this week. The decision to this effect was taken at talks here between Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin and Pakistani officials. Ludin discussed the operationalisation of the commission with Foreign Affairs Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir here at the Foreign Office. During the talks, the two sides finalised and agreed on the list of nominations from both sides to the commission to be headed jointly by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Hamid Karzai. The joint commission was set up earlier this year to push forward the reconciliation process between Kabul and the Taliban.
“The commission will now hold its maiden meeting here on June 10, the day when the Afghan president will visit Islamabad to hold talks with Pakistani leaders on the revival of peace and stability in Afghanistan,” said a Pakistani diplomat who asked not to be named. Ludin also discussed other items on the agenda of President Karzai’s visit to Islamabad during the talks. Pakistan and Afghanistan have already decided to operationalise the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA). The deal, which was clinched after years of efforts that had American backing as well, will help the Afghan government improve the country’s economy.