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Friday, July 20, 2012
Britain, Pakistan back bid for Afghan peace* Cameron, Karzai, Raja emphasise efforts to negotiate with Taliban need Islamabad's help if they are to be successful
* Karzai reiterates ‘urgency’ of a political solution
KABUL: Afghan efforts to negotiate with the Taliban need Islamabad's help if they are to be successful, the leaders of Afghanistan, Britain and Pakistan emphasised on Thursday, following three-way talks in Kabul.
British leader David Cameron and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met Pakistan's Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for the first time, as British and NATO combat troops prepare to leave Afghanistan in 18 months' time.
During the talks, Karzai reiterated the "urgency" of a political solution. His office said Ashraf and Cameron reaffirmed support for such a process, "led and owned by Afghans, facilitated by Pakistan and other regional countries". In a separate joint declaration by Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two leaders "expressed the hope that Pakistan's support to the Afghan peace process would contribute to durable peace and stability in Afghanistan".
"The Pakistani side... underlined its determination to redouble efforts in facilitating direct intra-Afghan contacts and negotiations," the statement said.
According to the tripartite statement, Cameron and the other two leaders "reiterated their strong commitment to working together to eliminate" terrorism, which "poses the gravest threat to regional and international security".
Karzai said the peace process was "the most important goal that we pursue", adding that Thursday's talks were "to see how we could intensify the Pakistan role in the Afghan peace process".
Karzai seconded Cameron in acknowledging Pakistan's efforts for long-lasting peace in the region, saying Pakistan and Afghanistan were currently enjoying unprecedented bilateral ties, which had never been this great. He added peace and security in Afghanistan was in the interest of both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Karzai said the two countries stood on the same page of mutual gains and losses as they face similar problems of security.
Earlier, during a joint press conference with Karzai, Cameron urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together in "one single fight", saying, "The terrorists trying to wreck Pakistan are the same terrorists trying to wreck Afghanistan." agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk