Pakistan, US to hold talks on Afghanistan this weekend

Pakistan and the United States will hold talks on bilateral and regional matters including Afghanistan this week, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The U.S. Special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman will visit Islamabad at the weekend to discuss different issues, focusing on proposal to help in the much- anticipated Afghan peace process. While replying to questions from newsmen at weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan said that Afghan issue will also be taken up during his visit. "The U.S. Representative visit is basically part of engagements between the two countries," Khan said. He said both sides will discuss all issues of mutual interest and concern. Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States have also an exclusive group to explore ways to push for the reconciliation process in Afghanistan ahead of the 2014 withdrawal of foreign troops. The State Department of the United States has also said that Ambassador Marc Grossman will visit Pakistan for talks on bilateral matters and Afghanistan. The State Department said on its website that Grossman departed on his visit on Tuesday, which will first take him to Turkey, where he will attend an international meeting in Ankara. "In Islamabad, Ambassador Grossman will continue our work with the Pakistani government to identify our shared interests and focus on actions we can take together," the State Department said. His trip builds on recent engagements, including Secretary Clinton's meetings with Foreign Minister Khar in Washington and President Zardari in New York, as well as the recent U.S.-Pakistan Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism Working Group convened in Washington, DC on Oct. 5, it said. The visit comes at a time when diplomatic efforts for solution of the long-standing Afghan problem are gaining momentum as the endgame approaches. Ambassador Grossman will attend a meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) for Afghanistan, which will focus on the status of Afghan and international commitments on security and development following the Chicago NATO summit and the Tokyo Conference. The ICG member countries also plan to discuss international support for transition planning and an Afghan-led political process.