(Islamabad) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai flew into Islamabad for key talks with Pakistan’s newly elected government, searching for communication with Taliban insurgents to end 12 years of war. It is Karzai’s first visit to Islamabad in 18 months and signals a desire by both countries to overcome distrust and hostility as 87,000 NATO combat troops prepare to leave Afghanistan next year.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Karzai held a one-on-one meeting at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad that lasted for an hour, during which both sides focused on issues of common interest including strengthening of bilateral ties and the evolving situation in the region. Karzai acknowledged that the “continued menace of terrorism” was a primary concern for people in Pakistan, where thousands have been killed in the last decade, as well as in Afghanistan. “It is this area that needs to have primary and focused attention by both governments. It is with hope on this that I have come to Pakistan… to advance the course of action together… but also by having a common campaign against extremism, (to) make sure that the two countries are safer and prosperous towards a secure future”, said Karzai.
Sharif wished Afghanistan well in the transition from Nato to Afghan security control and reiterated support for peace and reconciliation to be “Afghan-owned and Afghan-led”. “I assured President Karzai that Pakistan will continue to extend all possible facilitation to the international community’s efforts for the realisation of this noble goal,” he said.
