Pakistan PM visits Kabul

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Kabul on Saturday for a one-day visit at the invitation of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. During his stay in Kabul, Sharif would hold talks with Karzai and leaders of the High Peace Council to exchange views on bilateral relations with particular reference to the release of Taliban ranking leaders from Pakistani prisons and accelerating the Afghan peace process, officials said. Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Usmani and Kabul Mayor Mohammad Yunas Nawandish received Prime Minister Sharif at the Kabul International Airport. Karzai visited Pakistan on Aug. 26-27 this year at the invitation of Sharif. A delegation of the Afghan government-backed peace body, the High Peace Council, visited Pakistan couple of weeks ago but failed to meet Mullah Brother, the second in command of Taliban leadership reportedly freed from Pakistani jail months ago. The Afghan government believes that Mullah Brother can play a significant role in bringing about the Taliban leadership to the negotiating table.