Afghan FM to hold talks on transit trade, Osama

Dawn

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil arrived here on Sunday on a three-day official visit to Pakistan.

He flew here on board a United Nations plane as the Afghan national carrier cannot fly outside the country due to UN aviation sanctions imposed in November.

Mutawakil, accompanied by two Taliban officials, will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Abdul Sattar, and senior officials on Monday on bilateral ties and issues of mutual concern, official sources here said.

Mr Sattar and Mutawakil would discuss the issues of Osama, formation of a broad-based government in Kabul and Afghan transit trade, they said.

The main purpose of the trip was to pave the way for an impending visit to Pakistan by Mulla Mohammad Rabbani, the head of the Taliban council and the militia's number two, they said.

Mutawakil's visit comes at a time when Pakistan launches fresh efforts to bring Afghan warring factions to negotiation table, official and diplomatic sources said.

"There is open agenda for the talks," an official source said. A diplomatic source, however, confirmed that Pakistan wants to discuss with Mutawakil ways for the resumption of talks between Taliban and the Northern alliance.

It is Afghan Foreign Minister's first visit to Pakistan since the military takeover in October last year.

Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf's quest for the formation of a representative government in Kabul and his initiative to jointly work with Iran for restoration of peace in the war-torn country evoked appreciation.

The US Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth on Friday welcomed Gen Musharraf's plan to engage the neighbouring Iran in peace efforts and said Washington had been encouraged by the CE's statement for the establishment of a representative government in Afghanistan.

An Iranian delegation is currently in Afghanistan and has reportedly held talks with Taliban officials. Sources say a meeting between Mutawakil and Iranian officials is likely to be held in Islamabad.

Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) is another major issue for talks. Taliban are under pressure from Afghan traders to resolve the long-standing dispute with Pakistan over the transit trade.

Taliban and Pakistani officials have held series of talks on various issues and agreed to resolve their differences, however, a number of issues are yet to be resolved.

Pakistan is one of the three countries to recognize the Taliban regime. The other two are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.-Agencies