Karzai appeals for Pak help in peace deal

President Hamid Karzai on Thursday sought Pakistan’s backing for the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, saying its support was “critical” for the success of any Afghan-led peace process in his war-ravaged country.

Karzai, who arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit for bilateral talks and to attend a trilateral summit of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, discussed the troubled peace process in his country with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

He described “Pakistan’s support as critical to the success of the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process and the reconciliation” in Afghanistan, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said. Karzai informed the Pakistani side of “several initiatives” underway to promote peace in Afghanistan.

The two sides agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation to overcome the “common challenges of terrorism.”