October 9, 2003	Thursday	Sha’aban 12, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Islamabad is pressing for expansion of the mandate of the ‘Tripartite Commission’ comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan and United States to make it an all-encompassing mechanism for resolving disputes, diplomatic sources told Dawn on Wednesday.

This was one of the agenda items that top Pakistani officials discussed with the US deputy secretary of State Richard Armitage during his visit here on Monday, sources said.

Pakistan proposed that the Tripartite Commission be upgraded and its mandate expanded to address political, intelligence as well as military issues.

“In our talks with US officials here we emphasised that the commission also ought to address security and political concerns of all the member countries,” defence sources told Dawn, adding that the US deputy secretary of State Richard Armitage endorsed the proposal.

The decision for setting up the tripartite commission was taken in April to resolve territorial disputes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was prompted by a number of clashes between the border security forces of the two countries.

The commission comprises senior diplomatic and military representatives of the three member countries.

The commission decided during its third meeting in Kabul in August to establish a three-way hotline to facilitate better communication and coordination. The fourth meeting of the commission was scheduled here last month but the Afghan representatives were unable to make it to Islamabad to attend the meeting. Pakistan was told that inclement weather prevented them from coming.