*ISLAMABAD: *The United States is seeking firm guarantees both fromAfghanistan and Pakistan that “neither side’s territory is used to threatenthe other’s” in what is seen as a crucial aspect of a possible Afghan peacedeal.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have often blamed each other for harbouringmilitant groups involved in cross border attacks, something that underminedbilateral relationship between the two neighbours.
The issue has been one of the talking points the US is currently havingwith Pakistan and Afghanistan on the Afghan endgame.
This was now confirmed by Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representativefor Afghanistan Reconciliation, in a statement issued here on Friday by theUS Embassy.
Khalilzad wrapped up his latest trip to Islamabad where he held talks withForeign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and also separately met PrimeMinister Imran Khan.
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Before departing for Doha on Friday, Khalilzad interacted with Army ChiefGeneral Qamar Javed Bajwa.
“As Ambassador Khalilzad discussed in Afghanistan and Pakistan,consolidating peace will require reliable assurances from Afghanistan andPakistan that neither side’s territory is used to threaten the other’s,”according to the US embassy handout.
“Such assurances on top of an intra-Afghan comprehensive peace agreementwill allow for increased regional economic integration, connectivity, anddevelopment,” the statement quoted Khalilzad as saying.
