ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday agreed to set up a joint commission of diplomats and military officials to tackle militancy and support the ongoing peace and reconciliation process in the war-torn state.
“We have agreed that we will set up a two-tier joint commission at the foreign ministers and senior officials’ level,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rasoul. He said that the commission would promote understanding for peace and security in the region. He said that both the sides also agreed to establish a bilateral mechanism for cooperation and consultation between their respective authorities for mutual legal assistance, including the issue of prisoners and consular matters.
The talks between Islamabad and Kabul during Rasoul’s visit were aimed at preparing a joint strategy for the trilateral dialogue which will be held on February 22-24 in Washington. “Both sides agreed to ask the Obama administration to give peace a chance by opting for dialogue with the reconcilable elements in the cadres of Taliban militants fighting against the foreign troops in Afghanistan and also that Washington shall fully back the reconciliation process launched by the Karzai government with the Mullah Omar-led Taliban insurgents,” said a Pakistani diplomat, privy to the meetings of the Afghan foreign minister with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Qureshi.
