Foreign Affairs Ministry Hina Rabbani Khar discussed several bilateral issues of common concern’ with Afghan officials, says FO.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar held political consultations with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaq in Kabul on Tuesday, the Foreign Office (FO) said.
Khar is in Kabul leading a high-level delegation of Pakistani officials to meet Afghan government officials during a one-day visit. The bilateral talks came after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off a months-long ceasefire with Pakistan. It is unusual for Pakistani personages to stay overnight in Kabul.
A statement delivered by the FO said the conference discussed “a variety of bilateral issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in education, health, trade and investment, regional connectivity, people-to-people contacts, and socio-economic projects.”
Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Afghanistan, also attended the meeting.
Khar landed in Kabul this morning, welcomed by Deputy Minister of Economy Abdul Latif Nazari and Head of Mission of the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani.
The TTP ceasefire issue is likely to be discussed between the two sides.
“Mrs. Hina Khar will certainly express concern about attacks on Pakistani security forces from Afghanistan, who regulate the movement of persons to and from business affairs because of increased trade. Better clearance process and amenities on the Afghan side and assurance of the Afghan side on humanitarian aid to Pakistan,” former foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani told the reporters.
TTP calls off a ceasefire
The TTP leadership announced the end of the ceasefire citing the latest military operation against their fighters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district.
According to a report published in The News, Pakistani militants have become active in southern parts of KP, especially in South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan.
The government had to suspend the anti-polio campaign in Lakki Marwat district on Monday due to frequent attacks and operations against the police by militants.
In Afghanistan, several negotiations have taken place with Taliban leaders intending to find a peaceful solution to the years-long armed conflict.
Also involved were religious leaders and tribal leaders who were sent to Kabul to persuade the Pakistani Taliban to moderate their demands. The militants recently backed down on specific needs. Still, they wanted the government to restore the previous status of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and their armed return to Pakistan.
