Thursday, April 25, 2013

Kerry: Afghan-Pakistani Talks 'Productive'

http://www.rferl.org/
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says talks between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and senior Pakistani officials he hosted in Brussels were "productive." Speaking after the meeting, he said, "We had a very extensive and, I think everybody would agree, productive and constructive dialogue...but we have all agreed that results are what will tell the story, not statements at press conferences." Karzai, who met with the Pakistani Army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, and Foreign Secretary Jalil Jilani, called the April 24 meeting "important." The talks, which lasted around three hours, were aimed at repairing ties between Kabul and Islamabad. Kabul has grown increasingly frustrated with Pakistan, saying Islamabad is not fulfilling its promises to the reconciliation process with the Taliban. Kabul suggested Islamabad wants to keep Afghanistan unstable until foreign combat forces leave at the end of 2014. Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of providing sanctuary to Afghan insurgents on its soil. Pakistan denies this.

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