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Pakistan Army Chief in Kabul for Crucial Talks
News / Asia
Pakistan Army Chief in Kabul for Crucial Talks
In this picture released by Pakistan's army, General Raheel Sharif is seen arriving at the Presidential palace in Kabul.
Ayaz Gul
December 27, 2015 3:29 AM
ISLAMABAD—
Pakistan’s military leader, General Raheel Sharif, arrived in Kabul Sunday for crucial talks with Afghan political and military leaders.
Officials say the discussions will focus on promoting the Afghan peace and reconciliation process, enhancing security cooperation and better management of the long porous border between the two countries to prevent militant infiltrating on either side.
Afghan peace process
The visit comes after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s trip to Islamabad earlier this month for a regional conference of the so-called "Heart of Asia" process, ending months of deadlock in bilateral ties over allegations that Pakistan’s military has not cut secret ties to the Afghan Taliban.
At a quadrilateral meeting on the sidelines of the regional summit, President Ghani, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and Chinese and American officials had agreed to renew efforts for an early resumption of Kabul’s peace talks with the resurgent Taliban.
FILE - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, center right, greets Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, center left, upon his arrival at Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Dec. 9, 2015.
Sunday’s visit is being seen as a continuation of those efforts. Afghan and Pakistani officials hope the visit would allow both sides to explore ways how to further the reconciliation efforts.
Raheel to meet Afghan leaders
Afghan officials say General Raheel is scheduled to meet with President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
The Pakistan army chief was undertaking the day-long trip “with all sincerity and optimism” for better bilateral ties, military spokesman Lt. General Asim Bajwa told VOA.
Pakistan is committed to play its role “with full sincerity” to help Afghans seek a negotiated settlement to the conflict, he said, but emphasized that promoting the peace is “a shared responsibility of all.”
First round unsuccessful
Islamabad, using its “limited” influence with the Taliban, brokered and hosted first official direct talks between Afghan and Taliban representatives in early July, also attended by Chinese and American officials.
But a second round was abruptly called off a day before it was revealed that longtime Taliban leader Mullah Omar had been dead for more than two years.
The Afghan government accused Pakistan of covering up the news and orchestrating installation of Omar’s successor, charges Islamabad rejected.
Pakistan, Afghan, Chinese and U.S. officials are also expected to meet in the first week of January to discuss where, when and under what terms the Afghan reconciliation process can be resumed.
Increase in Taliban attacks
The unprecedented rise in Taliban attacks across Afghanistan this year has prompted renewed international calls for urgently seeking a negotiated settlement to the Afghan war to prevent further bloodshed.
Afghan National Army soldiers guard at a checkpoint on the way to the Sangin district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015.
The insurgent group has not yet stated whether it is ready to re-engage in peace negotiations.
In a statement this past week, the Taliban condemned alleged direct involvement of NATO forces in recent fighting for the control of the strategically important southern Helmand province where Afghan security forces are said to have lost control of several districts to the insurgency.
The Taliban cited anti-peace forces within the Afghan government, deployment of British military personnel to Helmand and U.S. airstrikes backing Afghan ground troops as steps detrimental to “renewed hopes" for Afghan peace and reconciliation.
News / Asia
Pakistan Army Chief in Kabul for Crucial Talks
In this picture released by Pakistan's army, General Raheel Sharif is seen arriving at the Presidential palace in Kabul.
Ayaz Gul
December 27, 2015 3:29 AM
ISLAMABAD—
Pakistan’s military leader, General Raheel Sharif, arrived in Kabul Sunday for crucial talks with Afghan political and military leaders.
Officials say the discussions will focus on promoting the Afghan peace and reconciliation process, enhancing security cooperation and better management of the long porous border between the two countries to prevent militant infiltrating on either side.
Afghan peace process
The visit comes after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s trip to Islamabad earlier this month for a regional conference of the so-called "Heart of Asia" process, ending months of deadlock in bilateral ties over allegations that Pakistan’s military has not cut secret ties to the Afghan Taliban.
At a quadrilateral meeting on the sidelines of the regional summit, President Ghani, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and Chinese and American officials had agreed to renew efforts for an early resumption of Kabul’s peace talks with the resurgent Taliban.
FILE - Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, center right, greets Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, center left, upon his arrival at Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Dec. 9, 2015.
Sunday’s visit is being seen as a continuation of those efforts. Afghan and Pakistani officials hope the visit would allow both sides to explore ways how to further the reconciliation efforts.
Raheel to meet Afghan leaders
Afghan officials say General Raheel is scheduled to meet with President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
The Pakistan army chief was undertaking the day-long trip “with all sincerity and optimism” for better bilateral ties, military spokesman Lt. General Asim Bajwa told VOA.
Pakistan is committed to play its role “with full sincerity” to help Afghans seek a negotiated settlement to the conflict, he said, but emphasized that promoting the peace is “a shared responsibility of all.”
First round unsuccessful
Islamabad, using its “limited” influence with the Taliban, brokered and hosted first official direct talks between Afghan and Taliban representatives in early July, also attended by Chinese and American officials.
But a second round was abruptly called off a day before it was revealed that longtime Taliban leader Mullah Omar had been dead for more than two years.
The Afghan government accused Pakistan of covering up the news and orchestrating installation of Omar’s successor, charges Islamabad rejected.
Pakistan, Afghan, Chinese and U.S. officials are also expected to meet in the first week of January to discuss where, when and under what terms the Afghan reconciliation process can be resumed.
Increase in Taliban attacks
The unprecedented rise in Taliban attacks across Afghanistan this year has prompted renewed international calls for urgently seeking a negotiated settlement to the Afghan war to prevent further bloodshed.
Afghan National Army soldiers guard at a checkpoint on the way to the Sangin district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015.
The insurgent group has not yet stated whether it is ready to re-engage in peace negotiations.
In a statement this past week, the Taliban condemned alleged direct involvement of NATO forces in recent fighting for the control of the strategically important southern Helmand province where Afghan security forces are said to have lost control of several districts to the insurgency.
The Taliban cited anti-peace forces within the Afghan government, deployment of British military personnel to Helmand and U.S. airstrikes backing Afghan ground troops as steps detrimental to “renewed hopes" for Afghan peace and reconciliation.
