KABUL (PAN): US Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Jarrett Blanc on Saturday discussed the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) and other bilateral issues with Deputy Foreign Minister Irshad Ahmadi.
During a meeting at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they also conferred on the Istanbul process, International Organisation for Contacts and Blanc’s trip to Pakistan and Kazakhstan, as well as President Hamid Karzai’s recent visit to the neighbouring country.
A statement from the ministry quoted Irshad as saying the Istanbul process was initiated in 2011 to increase cooperation among regional countries in dealing with common challenges.
Blanc viewed Pakistan’s role in the Afghan-led peace process as crucial and said he had held talks with officials in Islamabad on recent developments.
Islamabad could help bring militants and High Peace Council representatives to the negotiating table, he believed, hoping Pakistan would take more steps, including the release of Taliban prisoners, to boost the reconciliation process.
Separately, Ahmadi also met his Italian counterpart Lapo Pistelli and thanked him for Rome’s assistance to Afghanistan over the past 10 years. He sought continue cooperation from Italy. Pistelli responded positively to his request.
myn/mud