December 20, 2008	Saturday	Zilhaj 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: President Asif Ali Zardari postponed his scheduled visit to Afghanistan on Friday because of inclement weather.

This was to be his first visit to Kabul as president of Pakistan for talks with his counterpart Hamid Karzai on counter-terrorism and bilateral cooperation.

He spoke to President Karzai on phone to inform him about the postponement of the visit.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who had gone to Kabul for preliminary talks with Afghan authorities, returned here in the evening.

“The visit is being rescheduled and fresh dates will be announced soon,” Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.

President Zardari and Mr Karzai had met in Turkey earlier this month and pledged to work out a common strategy to fight Al Qaeda and Taliban militants operating along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

President Karzai had also attended the oath-taking ceremony of President Zardari in September.

AFP adds: According to a statement issued by President Karzai’s office, President Zardari said he hoped to reschedule the trip “at an appropriate future time”.

The Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement: “Pakistan attaches a high priority to forging close, friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan.”

Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi had predicted the trip would mark a fresh start in the sometimes contentious relations between the neighbours. “I foresee pleasant changes in the region in future,” he told reporters.