Regional support for Afghan peace drive stressed

ISLAMABAD(PAN): The United States, supporting an Afghan-led peace process, has urged regional states to back the reconciliation campaign and economic development of the landlocked country.

Following the fourth meeting of the Trilateral Core Group in Islamabad on Tuesday night, US Special Representative Marc Grossman said they would meet again in Turkey in November to confer in the regional aspect of the challenge confronting Afghanistan.

Flanked by Pakistan‘s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Javed Ludin, he said another meeting on the overall peace and reconciliation process, the security transition and regional economic vision was scheduled for December in Bonn.

Afghanistanwas in the process of identifying mid-level Taliban leaders who could contribute to the peace effort, Javed Ludin said. He was in Islamabad to drum up support for making the drive a success, he added.

Bashir said the Core Group provided a mechanism to consult, cooperate and coordinate on issues relating to peace, security, stability, prosperity and development. Pakistan backed the all inclusive, broad-based process of reconciliation that was underway in the neighbouring country, he added.

mrh/mud