ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Jawed Bajwa visited Kabul, Afghanistan, for a day-long official visit on Monday, where he met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and United Kingdom’s Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter.
Matters of mutual interest, current developments in the Afghan peace process, enhanced bilateral security and defence cooperation, and the need for effective border management between the two brotherly countries were discussed.
The COAS reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan means a peaceful region in general and a peaceful Pakistan in particular. “We will always support “Afghan led-Afghan owned” peace process based on the mutual consensus of all stakeholders,” he said.
The Afghan president thanked the COAS for a meaningful discussion and appreciated Pakistan’s sincere and positive role in the Afghan peace process.
Later, the army chief also called on Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, and discussed matters related to the Afghan peace process.
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General Lieutenant-General Faiz Hamid accompanied COAS during the visit.
The army chief also discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security situation particularly current developments in the Afghan peace process and measures to further enhance bilateral and defence cooperation with General Carter.
The COAS also offered condolences on the sad demise of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and said that the world has lost a highly respected friend.
The dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace and stability in the region, especially the Afghan peace process. The COAS thanked the dignitary for UK’s contribution towards the fight against Covid-19 in Pakistan and said that Pakistan Army greatly values its friendly relations with the UK.
This visit comes at a time of heightened uncertainty for the region as violence rises while the United States withdraws troops.
In recent weeks, citing Taliban and diplomatic sources, Reuters reported that Pakistan has been negotiating with insurgents to try and get them to commit to a ceasefire, agree to an extension of the US-Taliban agreement which stipulated forces should withdraw by May, and to continue to take part in peace talks at a planned conference in Turkey.
Violence has risen starkly in Afghanistan in recent weeks with the Taliban launching attacks throughout the country and a huge unclaimed attack taking place on a school in Kabul on Saturday that killed dozens of students.
The Taliban announced on Sunday night that they would commit to a three-day ceasefire for the holiday of Eidul Fitr later this week.
