Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Kabul has claimed that no progress was made on counter-terrorism and the reconciliation process at the two-day high-level bilateral talks in Islamabad that concluded on Saturday.

“While some progress was made on the mechanism of cooperation, no progress was achieved on specific result-oriented, time-bound measures in the APAPPS, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism, reduction of violence and peace and reconciliation to meet the priorities of Afghanistan,” a statement issued by Afghan Foreign Ministry at the conclusion of the talks said.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, however, maintained both sides had ‘good discussions’ at talks that took place under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), a joint action plan for cooperation in the key areas of counter-terrorism and reduction of violence, peace and reconciliation, repatriation of refugees and joint economic development.

This was the second round of APAPPS in a week that reflects determination of both sides to pursue policy of engagement despite differences over certain issues.

The first round was held in Kabul on Feb 3, following the deadliest Taliban-claimed attacks in Kabul on Jan 20 and Jan 27 which killed nearly 125 people and injured over 250.

While Afghan Foreign Ministry issued a formal statement in Kabul about the Islamabad meeting, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Faisal used his Twitter account to explain Pakistan’s position. “Pak-Afghanistan talks. Two days of good discussions. Some agreements. Further work required,” Faisal wrote on Twitter. He declined to offer more comments when a query was posted via WhatsApp.

Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai had led a high-level Afghan delegation comprising senior civilian and military officials.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua led the high-level Pakistani delegation comprising senior civilian and military officials for the Feb 9-10 talks.

Unlike the first meeting in Kabul on Feb 3, neither a joint statement was issued nor dates were announced for the next meeting, in what could be seen a setback for the APAPPS process which had earlier raised hopes for bilateral engagement.

An official, who has been part of the bilateral dialogue, had earlier admitted that both sides had difference and in fact ‘big gaps’ on certain issues. He, however, sounded satisfied at the engagement process to address to challenges.

“There were differences between the two sides as the issues are very complex but at the same time there is a high level of optimism in Pakistan that both governments are committed to move the process of bilateral talks forward,” insisted the official, who was part of the Islamabad talks as well.

Published in Daily Times, February 11^th 2018.