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ISLAMABAD: Afghan President Hamid Karzai is expected to visit Pakistan on Aug 26 to rebuild Kabul’s frayed ties with Islamabad and for talks on resuscitating the peace process with the Taliban.
A source in the Afghan presidency told Dawn that Mr Karzai would travel to Pakistan on Aug 26.
Afghan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Janan Musazai, at a briefing in Kabul, said a comprehensive agenda was being worked out for President Karzai.
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz delivered the invitation to Mr Karzai to visit Pakistan, when he visited Kabul last month.
This would be Mr Karzai’s first trip to Pakistan in almost a year and a half.
He spoke to both President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to exchange Eid greetings.
His conversation with Mr Sharif indicated his preferred subjects for talks. He was quoted by Afghan officials as having sought “practical and sincere” cooperation in fighting terrorism.
Discussions on reviving the peace process with the Taliban would be another feature of Mr Karzai’s agenda.
All stakeholders, including the Taliban, have expressed interest in getting past the fracas over the name of the Doha office and raising the flag that led to closure of the militants’ office. There are indications that the political office will be relocated to some other country. Kabul has indicated its preferences – Turkey or Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan first helped the Taliban open the Doha office and is now being pressured to play its part in coaxing them back into talks.
Mr Karzai will also discuss economic cooperation and the issue of Afghan refugees.
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On DawnNews
Comments (20) Closed
Aug 12, 2013 08:41am
His coming to Pakistan is only going to complicate the issues . He does not intend to solve problems . He will ensure further bad blood between the two countries .
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Aug 12, 2013 11:42am
'Karazia Agrees to Visit Pakistan'?? LOL... Really?? Have we stooped to a level where we actually need to convince a person who lived from 1980s till early 2000s in Quetta, to visit Pakistan???
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Aug 12, 2013 12:09pm
In all humility I beg to urge that someone in Pakistan would kindly re-think its priorities. There is no earthly possibility that Pakistan would achieve territorial depth in Afghanistan: it is no longer the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Even after 2014 end, it is unlikely that Pakistan's economic situation will be such that it could go against US policies in the region. Pakistan will continue to need US support in the context of WB, IMF, etc., even when there is no ISAF in Afghanistan. If Pakistan would let Afghanistan get on its feet and keep off it in the meanwhile, it may be a contribution to peace in the region. Nawaz Sharif is right in saying that Pakistan must improve its relations with neighbours. There is no point in continuing with exploded ideas like territorial depth and influence over the Afghan government after 2014 end. That may never come to pass. USA is unlikely to give Pakistan a free hand in Afghanistan after 2014 end. USA may not leave Afghanistan completely, as it did after 1989. V. C. Bhutani, Edinburgh, 12 Aug 2013, 0808 GMT
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Aug 12, 2013 12:20pm
Our President Mr.Karzai should not visit Pakistan at all because Pakistan is/was acting weird from the beginning, they don't know what is honestly in the first place. lol
Really... Karzai should stop wasting his time and concentrate relationship with the U.S and India and Europe / Nato. Put a full stop with Pakistan once and for all.
Sorry but this is how all Afghans are thinking when it comes to Pakistanis.
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Aug 12, 2013 12:47pm
We shouldnt let him come to Pakistan and we should throw all ungrateful Afghanis into india where they belong. They have ruined our culture and the very social fabric that has held us and not to mention their war and their troubles crossing our borders. In hindsight maybe we should have supported Russia, we would have been safer.
After all we have done, especially giving the Afghans refuge by letting them live in our country for over 30 years, in numbers so enormous that in the history of this world no country has witnessed such mass immigration, all we get in return in nonsense and trash.
Picture what Europeans/American do with such an influx - They close their borders and kick them out.
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Aug 12, 2013 12:47pm
It was the Indians who sided with the Soviets when you were invaded. It was Pakistan who stood by your side when nobody else cared. How fickle people's memories are. We don't need Karzai, he needs us. Furthermore, when the Americans leave, it will only be a matter of time before the Taliban arise again. The truth is the Afgans never accepted Pakistan's existence, we should not tolerate them and nor should we tolerate the indians peeping through our back door. We should not help them as the result is always the same: they bite the hand that helps them.
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Aug 12, 2013 01:10pm
It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire. It is folly to punish your neighbor by fire when you live next door. It is time for Afghanistan and Pakistan to get serious and understand their mutual interest and not the interest of the their mentors
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Aug 12, 2013 01:10pm
@Riza Afghan:
Riaz Afghan, I think you have forget those days when Russians were killing your mothers and sisters and it was Pakistan who saved you and also don't forget that at that time India was with Russians and supported killings of Afghans. So before commenting insanely, please read the history first. Khalid
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Aug 12, 2013 02:22pm
@Riza Afghan:
Afghans are Ungrateful people
Pakistan has been feeding you sheltering you where was your friend India when their friend Soviet Union was attacking you. Where was your President Karzai, when the Afghanis had no place even to shelter.
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Aug 12, 2013 02:23pm
@V. C. Bhutani:
Mr. Bhutani, But if USA left Afghanistan alone again, then there is only one country who will suffer again, that is Pakistan.
we are suffering because of these Afghans itself, we got pressure of migrated Afghans, we got lable of drugs smugglers because of their activities.
We will be really happy and happiest place in the world, If these Afghans can live by their own in the world.
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Aug 12, 2013 02:46pm
@Riza Afghan:
Why don't you ask the 3 million living in Pakistan for the last 30 years to leave the country and resettle in EU, USA and India???
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Aug 12, 2013 04:08pm
@Riza Afghan:
Please tell this to 5 millions Afghans living in Pakistan,
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Aug 12, 2013 07:31pm
@Riza Afghan:
if Afghanistan is so keen to develop relation with India, how about asking India to shelter over a million Afghans still living in Pakistan ? When faced with hard times, Afghans run to Pakistan to seek shelter.
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Aug 12, 2013 07:31pm
@muzammil ullah khan:
He is coming here with the blessings of his benefactors - Americans.
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Aug 12, 2013 07:41pm
@Riza Afghan:
Well said
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Aug 12, 2013 08:16pm
@Riza Afghan: My dear your thinking is like Indian brain, what Karzai given to your country, only corruption and dead bodies. He know the power of Pakistan, even those countries know very well you given the name.
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Aug 12, 2013 08:36pm
@Riza Afghan:
What you say is fine,please also advise your fellow afgan refugees to go to India/usa and NATO countries if this is the way you Afgans feel about Pakistan. thanks.
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Aug 12, 2013 08:43pm
@Riza Afghan:
bro u r right....v have the same feeling for our afghani neighbors...please take along filth of 3 million afghani people living in Pakistan...I think it was the biggest mistake of Pakistan history to allow refugee to afghani people on its soil.....
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Aug 12, 2013 09:20pm
@Riza Afghan:
Ask him after visit, take back to Afghanistan close to million Afghans in Pakistan.
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Aug 14, 2013 12:37am
Mr. Karzai stay home, we do not need you. Call your 3 million brothers back to your country.
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