Pakistan army chief to visit Kabul on Afghan peace, border management

Media reports suggest that Raheel Sharif’s trip wil mainly revolve around the proposed Afghan-led peace dialogue with Taliban insurgents in meeting with Afghan leadership.

Pakistan’s military spokesman announced on Sunday morning the army chief’s visit to Afghanistan.

During the visit General Sharif would discuss the reconciliation process including the schedule of the meetings and the militant groups that were expected to join the talks.

The first face-to-face Pakistan- brokered talks between the representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban in 14 years were cancelled in late July due to the revelation of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

The visit comes after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s trip to Islamabad earlier this month for a regional conference of the so-called “Heart of Asia” process, ending months of deadlock in bilateral ties over allegations that Pakistan’s military has not cut secret ties to the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan military spokesman, Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa, said on Sunday that Sharif departed for Kabul with “sincerity and optimism for better border management and peace process in Afghanistan”.

Afghan officials have in recent years criticized Islamabad for allowing the Taliban to freely operate in the Pakistani-Afghan border area. Afghans do not recognise Durand Line as an worldwide border and the government lacks the political will to settle the controversy.

Besides peace talks with the Taliban, Islamabad is pushing Kabul to take action against Pakistani militants allegedly hiding in Afghanistan and carrying out attacks.