Kabul to ponder over Pakistan’s training offer

ISLAMABAD (PAN, an official said on Tuesday.

At delegation-level talks at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in the garrison town of Rawalpindi on Monday, the Afghan government signaled its willingness to ponder over Pakistan’s longstanding offer of training its armed forces.

Led by Defence Minister Gen. Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, the visiting delegation included Maj. Gen. Afzal Aman, director general of military operations; Maj. Gen. Abdul Manan Farahi, director general of Military Intelligence and Investigation; Maj. Gen. Painda Mohammad Nazim, inspector general of training, and Maj. Gen. Aminullah Karim, commandant of National Defence College.

Gen. Mohammadi, currently on a five-day visit to Pakistan, and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani discussed the situation along the border, known as Durand Line, and the imperative of defence cooperation between the neighbours.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Gen Mohammadi hoped the release of Afghan Taliban by the Pakistan government would promote the peace process in the region. He praised Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

One official, who did not want to be named, confided to Pajhwok Afghan News the two sides agreed that security of their countries was inextricably linked with. They believed that extremists were their common enemies and could be defeated through cooperation.

“Both sides showed understanding of the fact that the destiny of the two countries is shared. This makes it imperative for them to move forward with a joint approach on important national and regional issues,” the official added.

He revealed the negotiators reached also an agreement on making the border control mechanism a bilateral affair instead of the current trilateral format, involving the International Security Assistance Force.

The Afghan delegation will visit the Combat Training Centre in Lehri (near Jhelum), School of Infantry and Tactics in Quetta, Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul and Staff College in Quetta to inspect the training facilities.

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