Leadership of various parties meet Karzai

Sunday, 19 February 2012 11:06

ISLAMABAD: Political leadership of various parties on Saturday called on visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai and discussed within the efforts on regional peace.

The Afghan President asked Pakistan’s political parties to play their role in Afghan reconciliation process in separately held meetings with the delegations of different parties including Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao (PPP-S), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-S (JUI-S) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PakMAP).

The ANP delegation comprised Senator Haji Adeel, Senator Afrasiyab Khattak and Zahid Khan. Talking to media persons after the meeting, Haji Adeel, who is also senior vice president of ANP, said that they had a good exchange on all issues of mutual interests with the Afghan president.

He said that violation of borders was a mutual problem of Pakistan and Afghanistan and both the countries should jointly work to redress it. Pakistan has been protesting against the incidents of cross-border terrorism.

PML-Q’s delegation was headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who after in meeting with the Afghan President told media persons that Pakistan and Afghanistan ought to avoid foreign dictation. Mushahid Hussain Syed said that Afghan and Pakistan governments should also be engaged in talks with the Taliban. He said that holding of trilateral summit in Pakistan proved that the decisions would not be made in Washington or Berlin.

PPP-S chairman Aftab Sherpao said they held detailed discussions on the efforts towards restoration of peace in the region particularly the Afghan-led reconciliation process. He said that during the meeting, President Karzai underscored the need for reactivation of the joint jirga of the two countries for restoration of peace and also invited Pakistani politicians to visit Kabul. The visiting Afghan President also held meetings with other political parties, including PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, on Friday and sought support for the Afghan-led reconciliation process. Other political leaders included PakMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). They also met President Karzai separately.