News / Asia

Karzai Urges Pakistan Role in Afghan Peace Process

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai walks to his vehicle after arriving at a military base in Rawalpindi, Pakistan June 10, 2011.
TEXT SIZE - +

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is calling on Pakistan to help his country achieve stability.

Mr. Karzai arrived in Islamabad Friday for a meeting with his counterpart Asif Ali Zardari.  Following talks, both presidents told reporters that Afghanistan-Pakistan relations remain strong, with both countries sharing the common goal of peace and prosperity.  

The Afghan leader said the "brotherly role" of Pakistan is critical to defeating terrorism in the region.

President Karzai's visit to Pakistan is the first since al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was killed in a U.S. raid in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad on May 2.

Ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been previously hampered by mistrust.

President Karzai has repeatedly called for Pakistan to do more to fight militants in the border region who launch attacks in neighboring Afghanistan.  And Mr. Karzai has said bin Laden's killing in Pakistan showed that the war against terrorism should focus on Islamabad and not Kabul.

The United States has urged Pakistan to play a productive role in Afghanistan's reconciliation process with the Taliban.

Pakistan was one of only three countries that recognized Afghanistan's Taliban-led government in the 1990s. And some members of Pakistan's intelligence services are thought to maintain links with the Taliban and other insurgent groups in Afghanistan.

The head of Afghanistan's peace council, former President Burhanuddin Rabani, is part of Mr. Karzai's delegation to Pakistan.  Mr. Rabani on Friday discussed Afghan reconciliation efforts with pro-Taliban cleric Fazlur Rehman, who heads a prominent Islamic party in Pakistan.

A joint peace commission is also scheduled to meet during Mr. Karzai's two-day visit.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

You May Like

Video Egypt's Conservative Rural Vote Appears Split

Early speculation after the first two-day round is showing a race too close to call More

NATO Continues Plans for Missile Defense

While Afghanistan dominated talks in Chicago, member states also reaffirmed their commitment to ballistic-missile defense More

War Declared on Invasive Leaping Asian Carp

When Asian carp were first imported decades ago, few foresaw their environmental impact. More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Latest Asia News

Afghan Parliament Approves US Partnership

More

US Drone Strike Kills 3 Militants in Pakistan

More

Climbers Crowd Mount Everest Despite Deadly Week

More

French President Outlines Early Pullout From Afghanistan

More

China Files WTO Cases Against US Tariffs

More
Read more

Vietnam's new technology entrepreneurs look global

More

SpaceX Capsule Closes in on ISS - Live Video

More