Pakistan army chief to visit Kabul for key security talks

Pakistan Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif is going on a day-long visit to Kabul on Thursday, the military said on Wednesday.

The army chief will call on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the army spokesman, Maj Gen Asim Salim Bajwa said.

This is the Pakistan Army Chief's first visit to Kabul since the new government has assumed office in late September.

The army spokesman said General Raheel Sharif will also hold talks with the Afghan defense minister, national security adviser and senior military leaders.

The visit is deemed very important as it would provide an opportunity to the Pakistani army chief to discuss security, border issues and anti-terrorism cooperation with the new Afghan leaders.

As most of the foreign troops will leave Afghanistan in two months and the U.S.-led NATO will end combat mission, Afghan forces will burden the overall security. Kabul would need Islamabad's cooperation in the post-NATO security situation that would be the main topic during the talks of the Pakistani army chief.

Tension has increased in recent months over the cross-border attacks and the illegal movement of the Taliban militants and both sides could explore options to reduce the tension.

Peace process in Afghanistan is likely to come under discussions during the talks as Pakistan has a key role in the reconciliation process.

General Raheel will be the third top Pakistani leader to visit Afghanistan in less than two months. President Mamnoon Hussain had represented Pakistan in the inauguration ceremony of President Ashraf Ghani on Sept. 28.

Pakistan's top security adviser Sartaj Aziz also visited Kabul last month and invited President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to visit Islamabad.

Afghan officials say President Ghani is likely to visit Pakistan this month.

Prior to his visit to Kabul the army chief met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Wednesday and discussed with him security matters, the PM's office said.

Both also discussed overall security situation with particular reference to the ongoing operation against militancy.

"The prime minister vowed to eliminate militancy and terrorism from the country with the cooperation of public," an official statement said.

The prime minister said the National Counter-Terrorism Authority will have to be made functional to effectively combat terrorism. He said a comprehensive strategy will have to be adopted against terrorism. He said the nation firmly believes in the elimination of terrorism from the country.