Islamabad, Aug 26, IRNA Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad on a daylong visit on Monday for bilateral talks, focusing on Pakistans role to bring Taliban to the negotiation table, officials and diplomats said.The Afghan president was accorded warm welcome on his arrival at a military airbase near Islamabad.
Karzai is accompanied by a high-level delegation including ministers, senior officials and members of the Afghan peace council, a powerful forum set up for talks with insurgents, officials said.
This is the first high-level exchange between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the democratic transition and swearing-in of the new government in June.
Officials say that President Karzai will hold one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and both leaders will later be joined by delegates. Both the leaders are likely to read out statements at a joint stakeout after their talks.
Karzai will also call on his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari. He will be guest at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Afghan embassy building at diplomatic enclave, the embassy sources said.
Afghan ambassador in Islamabad, Umer Daudzai, said the two leaders will also explore ways to increase cooperation on security issues and economic field.
Daudzai said Kabul will seek Pakistans practical steps to push Afghan peace process and to facilitate talks between the Taliban and the Afghan High Peace Council.
Asked if President Karzai will call for the release of more Afghan Taliban detainees still in Pakistans custody, he said Kabul wants the release of all Afghan prisoners who are not facing criminal charges in Pakistan.
Pakistan has freed 26 Afghan Taliban leaders including former ministers and governors since the process had started in November last year.
By IRNA
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