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Pakistani PM to Discuss Strained Ties, Peace During Kabul Visit

by Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD --

   Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is set to pay an
   official visit to Afghanistan on Friday to discuss strained mutual ties
   and Kabul's initiative of seeking a negotiated end to its war with the
   Taliban.
   Officials in Islamabad said Abbasi is undertaking the day-long trip on
   the invitation of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani "in the backdrop of
   Pakistan's support to Ghani's offer of peace talks with the Taliban."
   The two sides also will discuss ways to ease tensions in bilateral
   relations and strengthen political, economic, security and
   counter-terrorism cooperation.

   President Ghani offered unconditional talks to the Taliban more than a
   month ago at an international conference in Kabul to try to end the
   bloodshed in his country. His initiative received widespread domestic
   and international backing, but the insurgents have avoided commenting
   on the overture.
   "We stand for peace in Afghanistan," Prime Minister Abbasi told an
   international counterterrorism conference in Pakistan's capital
   Thursday. He emphasized instability in the neighboring country directly
   undermines Pakistan's security.
   Abbasi rejected as "a totally flawed narrative" allegations that
   Pakistan is covertly supporting the Taliban to fuel the Afghan
   conflict. He said Pakistan's security forces have cleared all their
   territory of terrorist groups.
   "We don't accept the narrative that there are any sanctuaries in
   Pakistan, which result in instability in Afghanistan. That is not the
   truth. Today, unfortunately, the reverse is true. The people
   instigating terror in Pakistan are based in Afghanistan," the prime
   minister added.
   Abbasi's planned visit to Kabul comes as the Afghan foreign ministry
   Thursday accused Pakistan's air force of violating the country's
   airspace and bombing its border areas. The alleged attacks did not
   cause any casualties, the ministry said.
   Kabul also routinely accuses Pakistani security forces of launching
   cross-border fire on Afghan villages.
   Officials in Pakistan maintain militants have taken shelter in
   "ungoverned spaces" in Afghanistan and plot cross-border attacks from
   there.
   During Thursday's speech, Abbasi insisted Pakistan is unilaterally
   constructing a fence on its largely porous border with Afghanistan to
   demonstrate Islamabad's resolve of promoting peace and security in both
   countries.
   U.S. and Afghan officials have long alleged sanctuaries on Pakistani
   soil have enabled the Taliban to sustain and expand its violent
   campaign on the Afghan side.
   President Donald Trump in January suspended military aid to Islamabad
   until it takes decisive actions against militant safe havens.
   The United States has welcomed Islamabad's renewed diplomatic
   reengagement with Kabul, saying an improved mutual relationship is
   essential for regional efforts against terrorism.
   "Obviously, for there to be stability in Afghanistan there needs to be
   a strong relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan," said U.S.
   Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice
   Wells on Monday, wrapping a week-long visit to Islamabad.