Pakistan, US top military leaders meet

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Top military leaders of Pakistan and the U.S. on Thursday vowed to find a political solution to end the 17-year-long war in Afghanistan, officials said.

Gen. Austin Scott Miller, commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, visited Pakistan Army headquarters in the northern city of Rawalpindi where he met with Pakistani army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, according to Pakistan army's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

"During the meeting matters of mutual interest with particular reference to regional security and ongoing Afghan reconciliation process were discussed," said an ISPR statement.

Both top military leaders expressed unanimity of views on importance of political resolution of the Afghan situation and underlined that only an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led inclusive process can lead to peace in the South Asian nation.

They also reaffirmed the need for continuing efforts against terrorists and for effective border management.

Bajwa assured the visiting U.S. general that his country is committed to efforts for peace in Afghanistan as it is important for peace in Pakistan.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan visited Pakistan following an intensive session of talks between U.S. peace negotiator for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Afghan Taliban last week in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE also participated in the sessions

Earlier this month, Pakistani premier Imran Khan in his tweet said that his country helped the U.S. bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiation table.

"Pakistan has helped in the dialogue between Taliban and the U.S. in Abu Dhabi. Let us pray that this leads to peace and ends almost three decades of suffering of the brave Afghan people," Khan tweeted.

U.S. President Donald Trump had asked for Islamabad's help in brokering the talks earlier this month.

Pakistan had brokered the first round of direct talks between the fragile Afghan government and Taliban in Islamabad in July 2015. However, the process broke down when the Taliban announced the death of their long-time leader Mullah Omer -- triggering a bitter power struggle within the militia.