Meeting in London today to defuse Pak-Afghan tensions

ISLAMABAD: London hosting talks between Pakistani and Afghan top officials on Wednesday (today) to resolve tensions and normalize bilateral ties, ARY News reported.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will meet Afghan National Security Adviser (NSA) Hanif Atmar in London today in an effort to defuse tensions between the two countries over alleged terrorist sanctuaries.

United Kingdom hosting the meeting, resuming its mediatory role in the complicated Pakistan-Afghanistan equation.

This would be the highest level contact between the two countries since their relations soared after last month’s spike in terrorist attacks in Pakistan which forced Islamabad to close down border crossings with Afghanistan. The crossings remain shut except for a brief two-day relaxation for return of stranded people.

Islamabad accuses Kabul of not taking action against the sanctuaries from where it says terrorists were planning and directing attacks in the country.

British National Security Advisor Mark Lyall Grant, Afghan NSA Hanif Atmar, Pakistan’s Sartaj Aziz and Afghan envoy in Islamabad will likely to attend the meeting.