Afghan military delegation to arrive in Islamabad tomorrow

Published July 2, 2014
Afghan President Hamid Karzai. — Photo by AP
Afghan President Hamid Karzai. — Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: An Afghan military delegation would visit Pakistan on Thursday to discuss security-related issues including Paki-Afghan border with Pakistan military officials.

"The Afghan military delegation is expected to visit the Pak-Afghan border along with Pakistani military officials to assess exact situation at the border," a Foreign Office (FO) official said to journalists during a briefing in the capital.

"We strongly urge Afghan authorities to take action against TTP hideouts inside Afghan territory and not give them space," the FO official said.

Responding to a question, the FO official ruled out any possibility of "hot pursuits" inside Afghanistan against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan hide outs. "Pakistan respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan," the official said.

The official said Pakistan would like to work closely with new Afghan government and wishes for a peaceful and smooth transition of power in Kabul. "Karzai is also an elected leader and Islamabad would continue to interact with him till his last day in office," the official said.

"Pakistan has no favourites in Afghanistan and playing its role with neutrality," the official maintained.

On Mullah Baradar, the official said that Baradar was free in Pakistan and not ready to go to Afghanistan.

Pakistan is still committed to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, however, the Doha process is over due to Karzai's reservations, the official said.

"Pakistan on its parts has released more then 50 Afghan Taliban leaders as a goodwill gesture," the official said.

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