Karzai, Kerry discuss post-Osama scenario

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai discussed with US senator John Kerry issues concerning the fight against terrorism, Afghan-US cooperation and efforts at bringing peace and stability to the country, the president’s office said on Sunday.

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, John Kerry, who arrived in Kabul on Saturday, held talks with President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace on Saturday evening, the Karzai office said in a statement.

The two leaders discussed in details the situation in Afghanistan and in the region. The proposed strategic cooperation agreement between Afghanistan and US and the post-Osama death situation in the region also came under discussion, it said.

The Al Qaeda leader was killed during a raid of US commandos, in Abbotabad city of Pakistan on May 2.

Kerry is the first US official visiting Afghanistan after the death of Osama.

Earlier Kerry told reporters that the US relationship with Pakistan was at a “critical moment” because of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

After his meeting with Noor, Kerry said most of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan were planned across the border into Pakistan.

“Pakistan is under threat of terrorists and faces many problems. The US needs the country’s cooperation in the war on terrorism,” he said.

“The US does not want to severe its relations with Pakistan despite the fact that most of attacks in Afghanistan are launched from there,” he said.

He said they wanted Pakistan to be a trustworthy friend in the war against terrorism. He said Pakistan had to respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

frm/ma

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