COAS, Afghan president discuss current developments in Afghan Peace Process

RAWALPINDI (92 News) - Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Kabul, Afghanistan for a day long official visit today.

According to the Inter-Service Public Relation (ISPR), the army chief held meeting with Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani. Chief of the Defence Staff UK General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter was also present during the meeting.

During the meeting, the matters of mutual interest, current developments in Afghan Peace Process, enhanced bilateral security & defence cooperation and need for effective border management between the two brotherly countries were discussed.

COAS Bajwa reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan means a peaceful region in general and a peaceful Pakistan in particular. "We will always support "Afghan led-Afghan Owned" Peace Process based on mutual consensus of all stakeholders.

On the occasion, the Afghani president thanked the army chief for a meaningful discussion and appreciated Pakistan's sincere and positive role in Afghan Peace Process.

Later, COAS Bajwa also called on HE Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan and discussed matters related to Afghan Peace Process.

Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid, Director General Inter Services Intelligence, accompanied COAS during the visit.

Earlier, the Reuters reported that COAS visited Afghanistan on Monday to meet President Ashraf Ghani, Afghan government sources said, at a time of heightened uncertainty for the region as violence rises while the US withdraws troops.

COAS Bajwa was meeting Ghani as well as other Afghan leaders in Kabul, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak with media.

The media wing of Pakistan's military did not immediately respond to request for comment or confirm the visit.

It was not immediately clear what would be discussed during the meeting. Neighbouring Pakistan is regarded as a key player in the Afghan peace process.

Bajwa on Monday also met General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), UK.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation particularly current developments in Afghan peace process and measures to further enhance bilateral and defence cooperation were discussed.

In recent weeks, Taliban and diplomatic sources told Reuters, Pakistan has been negotiating with insurgents to try and get them to commit to a ceasefire, agree to an extension of the US-Taliban agreement which stipulated forces should withdraw by May, and to continue to take part in peace talks at a planned conference in Turkey.

Violence has risen starkly in Afghanistan in recent weeks with the Taliban launching attacks throughout the country and a huge unclaimed attack taking place on a school in Kabul on Saturday that killed dozens of students.

The Taliban announced on Sunday night that they would commit to a three-day ceasefire for the Islamic religious holiday of Eid later this week. read more