ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif and US top commander in Afghanistan Gen John Nicholson on Wednesday held talks on retuning of their cooperation for Afghan peace.
Commander of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan Gen Nicholson was on his routine visit to Pakistan during which he held discussions with the army chief on management of Pak-Afghan border and prospects of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. It was his first visit to Pakistan since President Obama earlier this month announced adjustments in the plan for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan leaving behind 8,400 troops through the end of this year and Nato renewed its pledge for its continued support to Afghanistan.
Gen Nicholson had welcomed President Obama’s decision to slow down the withdrawal, saying it would send a message to the militants that they will not win militarily, and reconciliation was the only solution. He believes that the move would help improve regional security and benefit US counterterrorism efforts in the region.
The Foreign Office, too, had hailed the Nato commitment, saying “efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan” were welcome.
Additionally, killing of Army Public School mastermind Umar Naray in a US drone attack and Gen Sharif’s directives to intelligence agencies and field commanders to act against those using Pakistani soil to carry out attacks in Afghanistan had set the ground for a new phase of cooperation.
“At the meeting, the two commanders discussed the way forward,” a source said.
After recent strains in Pak-US relationship, Islamabad has been demanding the US support for border management that is resisted by the Afghan government; early repatriation of over three million Afghan refugees; and action against TTP operatives in Afghanistan for future support for Afghan reconciliation and action against Afghan Taliban having sanctuaries in Pakistan.
The ISPR said in a statement that Gen Nicholson “lauded the role of Pakistan Armed Forces in breaking the nexus of terrorists and efforts for bringing peace in the region”.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1272213/raheel-us-commander-discuss-afghan-peace-plan
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