A high-level US delegation comprising civilian and military officials on Sunday called on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and sought Pakistan’s help for a meaningful and result-oriented “Afghanistan reconciliation process”.
The American delegation comprised Acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador David Pearce, Special Assistant to the President on Afghanistan and Pakistan Lieutenant General (r) Dagulas Lute, Principal Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Dr Peter Lavoy and US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson.
“The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest with particular focus on Afghanistan reconciliation process. From Pakistan’s side, Jalil Abbas Jillani, foreign secretary also attended the meeting,” an ISPR spokesman said.
No further details of the vital meeting were given by the spokesman but an official seeking anonymity said the US officials asked for Pakistan’s support for the start of a meaningful dialogue between Washington and the Mullah Omar-led Afghan Taliban as well as the Afghan government and the Taliban.
“The participants of the meeting agreed that there was need to give thrust to the ‘sluggish’ Afghanistan reconciliation process as only result-oriented talks between different parties to Afghanistan problem could lead to peace and stability in the war-torn country,” he said.
At present, there is a stalemate in peace talks between US officials and Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar and the Obama administration wants resumption of these negotiations as soon as possible, as that would help it materialise the American strategy to pull out the US-led NATO troops from Afghanistan by 2014.
There has also been no movement ahead as for any peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban because the latter believe that there is no use of talks with the administration of President Hamid Karzai and the real authority lies with the United States.
The official said the US administration wanted to end the current stalemate in talks with the Taliban and for that it believed Pakistan could play a vital role in bringing the Taliban to the table of negotiations.
He said General Kayani told the US officials that Pakistan would take every possible step to help restore peace in Afghanistan. He said the army chief observed that peace and stability in Afghanistan was vital for peace and stability in Pakistan.
He said the recent border feud between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the renovation of a border gate in Mohmand Agency by Islamabad also came up for discussion during the meeting.
“General Kayani told the American officials that Pakistan wants to have good, friendly ties with its western neighbour and it is always for talks with Afghanistan to iron out differences, if any, on the various issues,” the official said.
This is a very good initiative by US Government.
Unfortunately Pakistan had an inept political government lacking vision. No doubt Pakistan has had a successful political process which is ongoing. It is highly unlikely that Pakistan will have a competent and an able government after the forthcoming elections led by politicians who could deliver. The situation is likely to change in the next elections possibly in the coming 2-3 years.
Pakistan Army is a professional army being led by wise and restraint leadership at the present time. Tomorrow's political leadership can arise from current serving military, civil and judicial officers.
http://www.pakistantoday.mbt.pk/2013/04/21/news/n…
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