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Pakistan seeks better intelligence sharing from Afghanistan
KABUL: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday told a visiting Afghan trade delegation that his country is part of the solution to Afghanistan's security problems, according to a statement issued by his staff.Gilani supports "cooperation beyond the existing collaboration in security matters including intelligence sharing so as to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism and militancy," the statement said.
Karzai's spokesman said Spanta's comments were a reiteration of Kabul's position that Pakistan must be involved in the process of "bringing peace and stability not only in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan and in the region".
Reaching peace would not be possible, Waheed Omar told reporters, "without an active and honest role by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan".
Spanta -- a former foreign minister and the senior cabinet-level advisor to Karzai on security issues -- said senior Pakistani military and intelligence officials had visited Kabul in recent months on goodwill visits.
"I hope we can begin a constructive dialogue with a serious agenda during the next meeting in Islamabad, or in Kabul... maybe next month," he said.
Spanta denied Karzai had met Sirajuddin Haqqani, who runs the Haqqani network, which often launches attacks in Afghanistan, or the Taliban, "through mediation of Pakistan forces or otherwise".
Pakistani security officials indicated last month on condition of anonymity that they were planning to help broker peace efforts in Afghanistan by acting as a bridge between the Kabul government and powerful Haqqani network.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv