Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Afghan Ambassador Mohammad Umer Daudzai on Tuesday met amid reports of opening Taliban's office in Qatar. "The Ambassador of Afghanistan Mohammad Umer Daudzai called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar", said a Foreign Office statement, adding that they discussed matters of mutual interest including increased bilateral interaction in various fields.
The meeting took place following reports of opening Taliban's office in Qatar for holding political dialogue with the US, a bid, which the Western diplomats believe to lessen Pakistan's influence over Taliban. The statement issued following the meeting is, however, silent over the important development. Media reports on Tuesday referred to Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid's announcement that they (Taliban) had reached an agreement with the Qatar government and other "relevant parties" about the opening of the office but did not say when it would happen.
When approached for comments Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit came up with traditional response of the government of Pakistan, saying: "We always supported an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process. We strongly believe that stability and peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan's core interest."
However, the statement further said that the Foreign Minister and Afghan ambassador also reviewed economic co-operation for which the Bilateral Joint Economic Commission would hold its 8th session at the level of Finance Ministers in Islamabad in the third week of January 2012.
"The Foreign Minister urged independent, strong bilateral relations with Afghanistan as part of Pakistan's consistent policy to reach out to its neighbours", said the statement, adding that she stressed the need to build synergies through people-to-people, civil society and parliamentary contacts. Both the sides agreed on the need for high-level visits to provide the requisite impetus to bilateral relations, it said, adding that the Afghan Ambassador thanked the Foreign Minister for grant of scholarships to Afghan students.
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