KABUL – Afghanistan has rejected the claims made from the Pakistan sideover the breakthrough in the bilateral talks with the Afghanistan over theissue of the cross border terrorism.
Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Saturday announced in astatement that no progress has been achieved in the Afghan delegation visitto Pakistan.
“A high-level Afghan delegation comprising of senior civilian and militaryofficials led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai visitedIslamabad on the 9th and 10th of February 2018 to continue discussions withtheir Pakistani counterparts led by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua onAfghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS),” thestatement said.
“While some progress was made on the mechanism of cooperation, no progresswas achieved on specific, results-oriented, time-bound measures in theAPAPPS, particularly in the areas of counter terrorism, reduction ofviolence, peace and reconciliation to meet the priorities of Afghanistan,”it said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has said that the Afghan andPakistani officials had “good discussions” after they concluded two-daytalks on important issues.
The talks in Islamabad took place under the APAPPS, a joint action plan forcooperation in the key areas of counter-terrorism and reduction ofviolence, peace and reconciliation, refugees’ repatriation and jointeconomic development.
This was the second round of APAPPS in a week that reflects determinationof both sides to pursue a policy of engagement despite differences overcertain issues.
The first round was held in Kabul on February 3, following deadlyTaliban-claimed attacks in Kabul on January 20 and January 27, which killednearly 150 people and injured hundreds more.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal seemed upbeat atthe discussions. “Pak-Afghanistan talks. Two days of good discussions. Someagreements. Further work required,” he wrote on Twitter.
However, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said no progress was made oncounter-terrorism issues.