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Pakistan

Reconciliation, cross-border attacks discussed in Pak-Afghan-UK summit

Dunya News

Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to work together for peace and stability in the region.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to take steps for removal of misunderstandings and to work together for peace and stability in the region.On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and British Prime Minister David Cameron, led their respective delegations for a trilateral summit in New York on Wednesday. This was the second trilateral in three days after another such meeting was attended by Pakistan, Afghanistan and US a couple of days ago again on the sidelines of UNGA.President Zardari raised concerns that Taliban, having fled from Pakistani tribal areas after security forces mounted operation against them, had taken refuge in Afghan province of Kunar and Nuristan. He cited the example of 17 Pakistani soldiers, who lost their lives when their throats were cut by Taliban who had crossed over from Afghanistan into Pakistani territory, and urged President Karzai to take steps against incidents of organized terrorism in Pakistan from Afghan territory.The Pakistani president also highlighted that narcotics trade money was being used for terrorist attacks in Pakistan. He stressed that Pakistan was committed to peace and stability in the region and was ready to undertake all efforts that could lead towards the goal of an Afghan-led reconciliation process.Afghan President Karzai thanked President Zardari for the show of support for Afghan peace. He, however, said that Pakistan also needed to make its borders more secure. He also raised the issue of Haqqani network who were undertaking terrorist attacks in Afghanistan with frequency and their activities had remained unchecked.President Zardari assured his Afghan counterpart that Pakistan had no sympathy for any group as it had been the biggest victim of terrorism. Both leaders agreed that the tension between both countries was counter-productive for peace and stability. They agreed to enhance security and border-cooperation mechanism to combat the threat of terrorism.It may be mentioned here that reconciliation in Afghanistan has become the single most important agenda for United States and international community on the sidelines for United Nations General Assembly. Following the US, other important partners of Afghanistan and Pakistan have become active to not only find possible options to make reconciliation a success but also to troubleshoot the recent friction between Pakistan and Afghanistan.In the said trilateral involving Afghanistan, Pakistan and UK, each country reaffirmed its commitment to continue to work for the goals of regional peace, stability and development and for the elimination of the scourge of terrorism from the region. This was the second round of this trilateral summit and the leaders agreed that fight against terrorism was the shared interest.President Zardari, while highlighting the importance of durable peace and stability in Afghanistan, underscored the need for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process in Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan supports an intra-Afghan dialogue, and all misconception in this regard were unfounded. Education, economic opportunities for the people of affected areas, and socio-economic development were effective tools to transform the environment, he stressedHe termed Afghan governments accusations against Pakistan as unfair, and stressed that it should not forgot the sacrifices given by Pakistan for the last 30 years. Both leaders agreed to take steps on either side for stopping insurgents from crossing over and for stopping drug-trafficking from Afghanistan. President Asif Ali Zardari and President Karzai appreciated the constructive role being played by the United Kingdom to bring both countries together.President Karzai said that his country needed maximum political and economic support of neighbours as well as the international community to move towards a peaceful and stable region. Prime Minister Cameron reiterated commitment of Britain to support Afghanistan and Pakistan in working out solutions for peace and stability in the region and in their quest for socio-economic development of their people.- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in New York