News / Asia

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Visits Afghanistan to Boost Relations

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, left, speaks during a joint press conference with her Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rasool at the foreign ministry in Kabul, Afghanistan, February 1, 2012.
TEXT SIZE - +

Pakistan says it is willing to push Afghan insurgents to make peace, if asked to do so by the Afghan government.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told reporters in Islamabad Thursday that "we are willing to do whatever the Afghans want or expect."  

Khar made the comments a day after visiting Afghanistan, where she met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and pledged Pakistan's support for the Afghan peace process.

Pakistan is seen as a key player in that process because of its historical ties to the Taliban.  Many of the Afghan insurgent group's leaders are believed to be based in Pakistan.

Following talks with President Karzai Wednesday, Foreign Minister Khar said Pakistan has no "hidden agenda" in Afghanistan. She also said that Pakistan stands strongly behind political efforts to end the war in neighboring Afghanistan, but that the process should be led and driven by the Afghans.

Khar's visit to Kabul was aimed at mending strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghan officials have accused militants from Pakistan of fomenting violence in Afghanistan with the goal of disrupting the peace process.

Afghan officials have said last year's suicide attack that killed the country's key peacemaker, former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, was planned in Pakistan and carried out by a Pakistani citizen.  Pakistan has denied any involvement in Mr. Rabbani's killing.

On Wednesday, Pakistan dismissed a leaked NATO report that accused its military intelligence agency, the ISI, of supporting the Afghan Taliban.  The classified report was compiled from the interrogations of 4,000 captured Taliban and al-Qaida operatives.



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