Islamabad: Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States on Tuesday agreed to enhance cooperation over the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
Addressing a joint press conference at Pakistan’s Foreign Office in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said that the trilateral talks had been very constructive and productive. “We have agreed to enhance our cooperation for the reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” said Bashir. “This is an important track of engagement prosperity and development.”
Bashir said “we have been discussing various aspects of ongoing reconciliation process. It is a way through which we can express solidarity with afghan brothers.”
Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawid Luddin said that Afghanistan wanted to thank Pakistan for holding meaningful interaction we want to give a message of peace to our Pakistani brothers.
With the US plans to withdraw its troops, more and more Afghan forces have been given the responsibility of maintaining peace in the war torn country. “Transition phase is really appreciable because now powers are transferred to Afghan people now they are taking control of their own security,” he said, adding that support from allies at this moment was crucial “we had good opportunities for consultation we want to take the core group forward. We discussed strategies for increasing economic cooperation.”
US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Marc Grossman said that role of Pakistan was important to maintain peace in Afghanistan. “Pakistan should support reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The Kerry Lugar Bill is a long term investment in Pakistan.” He added that “we [the US] are supporting an Afghan led peace process, and America is not repeating mistakes of its past.”
The focus of the talks was stabilizing the conditions of the region especially cross border terrorism between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the cause behind which is still a discord, and intelligence sharing between the three countries.
In the previous round of talks in Kabul, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary called for a “need to end this blame-game” between the countries.
“We need to take ownership for our own affairs. This problem will not go away if we keep on pointing fingers at each other, we have done it for too long.”
Earlier, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari met Marc Grossman and exchanged words about laying out a clear understanding between Pakistan and the US regarding the strategic alliance in the war against terror.
In the meeting, President Zardari said that future implementation of strategies will be done on mutual consensus.
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