Kerry presses PM Sharif to end violence, unfinished war against terrorism

Secretary of State John Kerry in his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Blair House in Washington said that the Peace Talks process led by Afghans is the surest way to end the violence and ensure lasting stability in Afghanistan and the region.

Kerry thanked Sharif for continuation of facilities for Peace Talks by Islamabad between Afghan government and Taliban members. But still the deadlock of second round of Peace Talks process is remaining aside.

Spokesman to US secretary of state declared that John Kerry and PM Sharif have also talked over Obama’s recent decision to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016.

The Secretary and the prime minister highlighted the multidimensional nature of the United States-Pakistan partnership and its importance for regional stability and security.

“They discussed the recent announcement to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016, noting that an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process is the surest way to end violence and ensure lasting stability in Afghanistan and in the region,” John Kerry said.

Kerry has also thanked Prime Minister Sharif for Pakistan’s continued facilitation of reconciliation discussions between the democratically elected Afghan Government and members of the Taliban.

John Kerry’s visit with PM Sharif comes three months after talks between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives collapsed, and less than a week after Mr. Obama abandoned plans to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan and instead keep nearly 10,000 troops on the ground through at least the end of 2016.

Previously, President Ghani has said improving the relationship with Pakistan was a top priority: if Islamabad would cut its links with the Afghan Taliban, then Kabul would try to prevent anti-Pakistan forces finding sanctuary in Afghanistan.

The two countries, he suggested, could only find stability by working together.

But for all the hope that President Ghani engendered, Islamabad and Kabul have reverted to hurling accusations at each other. And the distrust seems set to continue.