KABUL (Pajhwok): The British military chief has played a crucial role in arranging a meeting between President Ashraf Ghani and heads of the Pakistan army spy service, reports a leading UK newspaper.
The Independent said Gen Carter was in Kabul this week to bring together commanders of the Pakistani military and President Ghani and his deputy.
The role of Carter and his team in the mediation between the neighbours has not been publicly discussed by the British government.
Months of secret talks took place to facilitate talks between senior Afghan and Pakistani military officers and officials, with British involvement, the daily revealed.
The UK mediation follow the US decision to end the longest war in its history by withdrawing its remaining troops from the troubled country..
“Ghani has kept in regular personal contact with Gen Carter, who he has known for a long time.” The Independent added.
One unnamed Afghan official confirmed to the paper: “Gen. Carter has played an important part in getting us and the Pakistanis together. It is not easy to have trust with the recent history between the two countries. We do not know what’s going to happen in the future; we have great worries.”
Carter was present at the meeting between Ghani, Vice-President Amrullah Saleh and Pakistani army chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa.
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) head Gen. Faiz Hameed was also present. The ISI has been accused over the years of aiding the Taliban and the Haqqani network.
A former National Directorate of Security chief, Saleh thanked Gen Carter after the meeting for his “facilitating role”.
Currently 750 British troops in Afghanistan are on a NAYO-led training mission. They are expected to leave a month earlier than September 11.
PAN Monitor/mud
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