KABUL – A meeting between the Chief of Staff of the Afghanistan NationalArmy, the Pakistan army, Uzbekistan’s army and Kazakhstan’s army, alongwith the Commander of Resolute Support Mission Gen. John Nicholson, washeld on Tuesday in Kabul.

The meeting was hosted by Resolute Support Mission, and focused on thefight against insurgency and drug trafficking.

“Discussions held on how to jointly combat terrorism and drug smuggling andto find a solution to the issue and this is good for Afghanistan,” said MoDspokesman Dawlat Waziri.

“Cooperation by the central Asian countries will help us in restoringdurable peace,” said CEO spokesman Mujiburrahman Rahimi.

In addition, the Presidential Palace said President Ashraf Ghani met withUzbekistan and Kazakhstan’s army chiefs and said their visit to Afghanistanwill open a new era for cooperation in the military sector between thethree countries.

It is not clear if Pakistan’s army chief will meet with Afghan authoritiesseparately or not.

The meeting is expected to run over two days.

Participating countries – especially Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan – recentlyvoiced their concern over the growing number of insurgents in the north ofAfghanistan.

But NATO said it has targeted Taliban and other insurgents the region –conducting a barrage of air strikes against them in the past two weeks.