ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistani and Afghan officials are scheduled to meet on Monday to review progress on agreements in a series of talks under a bilateral mechanism, according to Pakistani and Afghan officials.
This will be the fourth round of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) – a joint action plan for cooperation in key areas of counter-terrorism and for reduction of violence, and promotion of peace and reconciliation involving repatriation of refugees and joint economic development.
According to a local daily, both sides will discuss the method in which to deploy military officials as Liaison Officers (Los) to share information about the presence and activities of suspects.
“If the LOs system makes progress, LOs could later be deployed at GHQ in Pakistan and Defence Ministry in Kabul,” a source privy to the Pak-Afghan discussions said.
An official told Daily Times that Pakistan has not agreed to Afghanistan’s quest for a third-party verification of actions on both sides as it will set a new precedent. Both sides will explore ways to remove differences that have created hurdles in the formation of five joint working groups of military, intelligence, diplomats, trade and officials of the ministries dealing with the refugees’ issue, he said.
Pakistan believes that under the APAPPS framework, a sustainable and long-lasting solution to problems can be achieved.
This will be the first meeting of the APAPPS after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani agreed on key principles to finalize the mechanism during their meeting in Kabul in early April.
The issue of cross-border shelling is also one of the issues, both sides will be discussing during the talks.
Afghanistan had initially raised objections with regards to the language used in the document; including the use of the word border – one that Kabul refers to as the ‘Durand Line’. “In order to avoid any controversy and delay in the formation of the joint working groups, Pakistan proposed the use of the word ‘territory on both sides’,” he said.
Meanwhile, a trilateral a trilateral dialogue between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan is taking place in Islamabad on May 15. Scholars and stakeholders from various backgrounds are set to take part in the first round of the track-II/I.5 dialogue.
The umbrella theme of the conference is “China, Afghanistan and Pakistan: Constructive Engagement for Sustainable Growth”. The Dialogue is being organized by the Regional Peace Institute (RPI) with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.
Pakistan, Afghanistan hold fourth round of bilateral talks to gauge progress on agreements
Pakistan, Afghanistan hold fourth round of bilateral talks to gauge progress on agreements
- This will be the fourth round of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS)
- Both sides will also discuss the method in which to deploy military officials as Liaison Officers (Los) to share information about the presence and activities of suspects
Pakistan U19 to open tri-series against Afghanistan on Saturday in Zimbabwe
- Pakistan enter the tournament as U19 Asia Cup champions after beating India by 191 runs in Dubai
- The tri-series is seen as key preparation for next month’s U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team will begin their tri-series campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday in Harare, using the tournament as a key preparation for next month’s ICC Men’s U19 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Pakistan, the reigning ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup champions, are competing in the 50-over tri-series alongside Afghanistan and hosts Zimbabwe, with each team playing the others twice before the top two advance to the final on Jan. 6.
Pakistan won the eight-team Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this month, beating India by 191 runs in the final, and will play a minimum of four matches in the tri-series, starting at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
“The Asia Cup was a good win for us and the players showed great morale and intensity,” Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf said, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “The tri-series is very important for the players and will help us find the right combinations ahead of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.”
Pakistan will face Zimbabwe on Dec. 29 before meeting Afghanistan again on Jan. 2, followed by a second match against the hosts on Jan. 4. Matches will be played across venues in Harare, including Harare Sports Club, Prince Edward School and Sunrise Sports Club.
The tri-series is being seen as an important warm-up ahead of the U19 World Cup, which will be held from Jan. 15 to Feb. 6. Pakistan are placed in Group C and will play all their group-stage matches in Harare.
“The conditions here are similar and will be beneficial for our World Cup preparations,” Yousaf said. “Both teams in the tournament are strong and competitive and we respect every opposition as we look forward to a competitive event.”
Pakistan will open their World Cup campaign against England on Jan. 16, followed by matches against Scotland and Zimbabwe, with the Super Six stage beginning on Jan. 25 and the final scheduled for Feb. 6 at Harare Sports Club.
